PrefaceChapter 1. It comes to us all
Chapter 2. A rich bag of goodies - the human body as a source of nutrients2.1 What types of tissues are present in my body? 2.1.1 Epithelial tissue - keeping it all together2.1.2 Connective tissue - our support system 2.1.3 Muscle tissue - standing and moving2.1.4 Nervous tissue - I've got a feeling (thank you Beatles) 2.2 But what are all these tissues made up of?2.2.1 Small is beautiful, but big is also very important 2.2.2 Structures of the main macromolecules in humans 2.2.3 Where are macromolecules found in human tissues?2.3 How available to microbes and insects are the nutrients present in the human body? 2.4 And then, of course, we shouldn't forget that brown, smelly stuff 2.5 Want to know more?
Chapter 3. Our life-long microbial companions - who are they and what do they get up to while we're alive?3.1 What are microbes? 3.1.1 What is the definition of a microbe? 3.1.2 So, how are these six types of microbes different from each other?3.1.3 They're so small so they must be very simple creatures?3.1.4 How do we identify the various types of microbes? 3.2 Meet my best friends - my microbiota3.2.1 How many microbes live on me?3.2.2 Do all parts of my body have the same microbes?3.2.3 Which microbes live in my gut?3.2.3.1 Microbes that live in our mouth 3.2.3.2 Microbes that live in our stomach3.2.3.3 Microbes that live in our small intestine 3.2.3.4 Microbes that live in our large intestine3.2.4 Which microbes live on my skin? 3.2.5 Which microbes live in my respiratory system?3.2.6 What about the microbes that live at other body sites?3.3 How do we manage to co-exist with our microbiota?3.4 Want to know more?
Chapter 4. Not a pretty picture - our appearance after death4.1 How can we find out what happens to a body after death?4.2 The decomposition of a human corpse follows a predictable pattern4.3 What are the various stages involved in decomposition?4.3.1 The fresh stage - 0 to 3 days after death 4.3.2 The bloat stage - 2 to 6 days after death4.3.3 The stage of active decay - 5 to 11 days after death4.3.4 Advanced decay (or post-decay) stage - 10 to 25 days after death4.3.5 Skeletal decay stage - >25 days after death 4.4 The smell of death - I think, I think, I smell a stink, it comes from y...o...u 4.5 Factors that affect the rate of decomposition4.6 Where's my mummy?4.7 Want to know more?
Chapter 5. The great betrayal - our own cells and our symbionts turn against us5.1 It all starts with autolysis - the damage is self-inflicted5.2. And now the microbes can take over5.3. It all comes down to ecology5.4. Ch...Ch....Ch....changes (with thanks to David Bowie)5.5. Mass migration - a world (or, at least, a corpse) without borders 5.6. Knock, knock - who's there?5.6.1. A general overview - the broad-brush approach5.6.2. What happens to specific organs?5.6.2.1. What happens in your mouth?5.6.2.2. What happens in your gut?5.6.2.3. What happens to your skin?5.6.2.4. What happens in your brain?5.6.2.5. What goes on in your heart (with thanks to the Beatles)?5.6.2.6. What happens in your liver?5.6.2.7. What happens to your spleen?5.6.2.8. What happens to the uterus?5.6.2.9. What happens to the prostate?5.6.2.10. What happens to them bones, them bones, them dry bones (with thanks to the Johnson brothers)? 5.6.2.11. What happens to your blood?5.6.3. Come on in, it's now open house - the invasion of the body-eaters5.7 Want to know more?
Chapter 6. From the micro to the macro - now the big guys move in6.1 What is an insect?6.2. What goes on above ground - who's first and who's last?6.2.1 The fresh stage6.2.2 The bloat stage6.2.3 The active decay stage6.2.4 The advanced decay stage6.2.5 The skeletonisation stage6.2.6 Wave upon wave of insects - Help, I'm not waving but drowning 6.3 And now for what's going on down below6.3.1 Early arrivals6.3.2 Now for the late-comers6.3.3 And last, but not least6.4 Want to know more?
Chapter 7. And what about the rest of the big, wide world? Corpse decomposition and the environment7.1 What are the ways in which a corpse affects the environment?7.1.1 Let's start with the sensual7.1.2 Now for the chemical7.1.2.1 Local effects7.1.2.2 Distant effects7.1.3 The biological impact 7.1.3.1 What happens to the soil microbiota? 7.1.3.2 Now for the nematodes7.1.3.3 The micro-arthropods are also affected7.1.3.4 What about insects?7.1.3.5 Are other animals affected?7.1.3.6 What about plants?7.1.3.7 The bigger picture7.2 Final thoughts7.3 Want to know more?
APPENDIX I. GlossaryAPPENDIX II. Brief descriptions of microbes mentioned in the bookAPPENDIX III. Images of corpses
