What term is used to define the cessation of vital activities in the body?

The term that defines the cessation of vital activities in the body is somatic death. This concept refers to the complete and final loss of all bodily functions, including breathing, circulation, and reflexes. Somatic death signifies that the body is no longer capable of sustaining life, reflecting a definitive end to physiological processes.

In contrast, clinical death refers to the state where there is a temporary cessation of blood circulation and breathing, but it may be reversible under certain conditions. Cerebral death specifically describes the irreversible loss of brain function, including the brainstem, while biological death involves the breakdown of all biological processes in the body. Somatic death encompasses all these aspects and highlights the irreversible nature of the cessation of vital activities in the organism.