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Cardiac death is defined as the irreversible cessation of all activities of the circulatory system, particularly the heart. When cardiovascular activity ceases, blood flow to vital organs stops, leading to a lack of oxygen and nutrients necessary for cellular function. This lack of perfusion ultimately results in cellular death throughout the body, including the brain, within a short timeframe.

In contrast, the final cessation of brain activity and respiratory function may occur in the context of cardiac death, but these events are consequences of the heart ceasing to function rather than the defining characteristic of cardiac death itself. Additionally, the final cessation of digestive functions is not directly related to the immediate biochemical and physiological processes that characterize cardiac death. Thus, the primary indicator of cardiac death is the complete and irreversible cessation of cardiovascular activity.