What is rigor mortis?

What is rigor mortis?

• A. The pooling of blood in tissues
• B. Stiffness of the body after death
• C. The cooling of the body after death
• D. A state of dehydration

Answer: (B)

Rigor mortis is the phenomenon that occurs after death where the muscles of the body become stiff and rigid. This stiffness is caused by biochemical changes in the muscles as they undergo a series of post-mortem processes. Specifically, after death, the body no longer produces adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is necessary for muscle relaxation. As a result, muscles contract and remain in that contracted state, leading to the characteristic rigidity of rigor mortis. This condition typically begins a few hours after death and can last for several days, gradually dissipating as decomposition progresses. It is an important aspect of forensic science, as its timing can help estimate the time of death. Understanding rigor mortis is crucial in both medical and forensic contexts, as it plays a significant role in determining the circumstances surrounding a person's death.

Rigor mortis is the phenomenon that occurs after death where the muscles of the body become stiff and rigid. This stiffness is caused by biochemical changes in the muscles as they undergo a series of post-mortem processes. Specifically, after death, the body no longer produces adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is necessary for muscle relaxation. As a result, muscles contract and remain in that contracted state, leading to the characteristic rigidity of rigor mortis.

This condition typically begins a few hours after death and can last for several days, gradually dissipating as decomposition progresses. It is an important aspect of forensic science, as its timing can help estimate the time of death. Understanding rigor mortis is crucial in both medical and forensic contexts, as it plays a significant role in determining the circumstances surrounding a person's death.