What temporarily restrains the swelling caused by expanding gases and vaporizing fluids?
Answer
Sufficient tensile strength of human skin and connective tissues.
Although the immediate consequence of ebullism is the rapid vaporization of body fluids, causing internal gases and steam to expand dramatically, the body does not instantly explode. This is because human skin and the underlying connective tissues possess an inherent tensile strength. This structural integrity is strong enough to temporarily contain the pressure generated by the expanding vapors and gases. While this containment is ultimately temporary as fluids escape, it allows the initial, rapid process of outgassing to occur gradually enough for the subsequent evaporative cooling and freezing to take effect before catastrophic structural failure occurs.
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