Which type of death is characterized by the irreversible cessation of all life processes?

Somatic death refers to the complete and irreversible cessation of all vital functions of the body, including heartbeat, respiration, and brain activity. This condition signifies that the individual is no longer alive, as there are no remaining life processes occurring in any part of the body.

In contrast, clinical death is a temporary state where there is a lack of heart and respiratory activity but can still potentially be reversed with immediate medical intervention. Brain death is a specific type of death where all brain activity has permanently ceased, but some bodily functions might still persist through mechanical means such as respiration or circulation. Biological death occurs when cells and tissues begin to break down and die due to lack of oxygen and nutrients, which typically follows somatic death. Understanding these distinctions is essential for recognizing the different stages and definitions associated with death in the context of mortuary science.