Chinese Journal of Dermatology ›› 1983, Vol. 16 ›› Issue (1): 12-18.

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Skin changes of the ancient female corpse of Khan Tomb at Changsha Mawangdui

Yang Guoliang   

  • Online:1983-03-15 Published:1983-03-15

Abstract: This paper reports a study of the skin of an ancient female corpse unearthed from a tomb of about 2100 years old at Changsha, The. eruptionlike structures densely distributed on her skin surface were actually postmortem changes, They are adipoceratioa changes due to disintegration and autolysis of subcutaneous fat leading to formation of fatty acids which migrated outward to de;mis and after combination with Ca-ions to form calcium salt. The latter entangles with upper dermis collagen fibers and accumulates gradually to form skin lesionlike structures on the skin surface.