What factor primarily influences livor mortis?

Livor mortis, also known as hypostasis, refers to the livid color that appears on the skin after death due to the pooling of blood in the areas of the body that are closest to the ground. The primary factor influencing this phenomenon is the position of the body after death.

When a person dies, the heart stops pumping blood, and gravity causes the blood to settle in the lowest parts of the body. This pooling effect is directly impacted by how the body is positioned. For instance, if a body is lying on its back, livor mortis will typically develop on the back, whereas if it is lying on its side, the side in contact with the ground will show more discoloration.

While temperature of the surroundings, time since death, and health condition of the deceased can all influence the rate at which livor mortis develops or the extent of its visibility, they do not determine the specific areas where the discoloration occurs. The positioning of the body is the key factor that dictates the distribution of livor mortis.