Final answer:
Two factors affecting postmortem loss of body moisture are environmental temperature and humidity; both can influence the rate of evaporation. Hot, dry conditions increase moisture loss, while high humidity slows down evaporation. These factors influence dehydration and its related physiological changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to the factors that affect postmortem loss of body moisture, which is a concept in biology related to dehydration. Two major factors that play a significant role in this process are environmental temperature and humidity. On hot, dry days, there's an increase in body moisture loss due to higher rates of evaporation. Conversely, on humid days, the high moisture content in the air slows down the evaporation rate from the skin's surface, thereby reducing moisture loss. In addition, exposure to hot or dry conditions can lead to disturbance in acid-base balance, a loss of weight from tissue water reduction, increased pulse rate, and other physiological changes in the body that indicate dehydration.
Dehydration occurs when the body loses more moisture than it takes in, resulting in a negative water balance which has several effects including a rise in body temperature, rise in plasma protein concentration and chloride, and dryness of the skin. The intake and loss of body water can be through several processes such as skin evaporation, urine, excessive sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea.