Rigor Mortis

Introduction
Rigor mortis is the stiffening of joints and muscles of the body, a few hours after an
animal or human dies. Another term for rigor mortis is post-mortem rigidity. Rigor
mortis can last up to 72 hours depending on conditions such as temperature. This
phenomenon occurs due to the partial contraction of skeletal muscles. These
muscles are unable to relax which results the joints to become fixed in place. Rigor
mortis begins throughout the body at the same time, however, smaller muscles such
as those in the face, neck, arm and shoulders, will be affected first, then spreading
through other parts of the body.
Under regular conditions, rigor mortis will normally appear within the body two hours
after the person dies. The body will start to stiffen but is still movable. Once the
contracting of all the bodys muscles has taken place, this state of rigor (rigid stage)
can last approximately eight to twelve hours when the body is completely stiff.
Muscles will stay stiff up until the 24 hour. Rigor mortis will reverse causing stiffness
to dissipates and muscles become flexible. After rigor mortis has completely
disappeared, decomposition will occur.
Physiology of Rigor Mortis
After death occurs, the muscles in the body will contract as per normal. In the resting
state, muscle cells build up electric potential across their membrane by actively
pumping out calcium ions. These cells will open the calcium channels in their cell
membrane upon receiving signal from a neuron. Calcium ions will rush in due to the
voltage difference between the inside and outside of the cell. These ions will work
together with actin and myosin filament, resulting in muscle contraction. The muscles
will remain contracted until adenosine triphosphate(ATP) binds to myosin, unlatching
the myosin and actin filaments from one another.
Muscle cell membrane proteins use ATP to actively pump calcium ions back out of
the cell to restore membrane potential and preventing re-stimulating contraction.
When breathing and circulation stops, muscle cells lack oxygen and cannot use
aerobic respiration to efficiently produce ATP. Respiration will then continue
anaerobically, but the muscle cells will eventually become so short on ATP that
myosin and actin filaments cannot release from the contracted state and calcium
ions cannot be pumped back out of the muscle cell. Unable to release contraction, all
the muscles of the body become tense, causing rigor mortis. (Figure 1)
Factors affecting rigor mortis
Temperature is an important factor in determining the time of onset of rigor. In normal
settings and at room temperature, rigor is complete in about three to six hours.
Onset of rigor is more rapid in higher temperature and is delayed at low temperature.
Other factors such as age, sex, physical condition and muscle build may affect the
onset of rigor mortis.
Application
Rigor mortis can be made used of in the agriculture and food processing industry.
When animals, such as cows, die or are killed for meat, rigor mortis will take place so
muscle can contract and the meat can age, for better quality and tender meat.
Rigor mortis is also important in the application of forensic. Forensic scientists use
rigor mortis to obtain details about the death of a patient. By looking at the muscle
contractions, the time of death may be acquired.

Figure 1: Amount of ATP and rigor mortis.

Amount of ATP depletes, resulting in the inability
of muscle relaxation to occur.
Taken from: http://ulrybio.weebly.com/unit3test.html

References
Claridge, J. (12 November, 2015). Rigor Mortis and Lividity. Retrieved from Explore
Forensics Website: www.exploreforensics.co.uk/rigor-mortis-and-lividity.html
Helmenstine, A. M. (n.d.). What causes rigor mortis? Retrieved from About Education
Website: http://chemistry.about.com/cs/biochemistry/a/aa061903a.htm
Rao, D. D. (2013). Muscular changes. Retrieved from forensicpathologyonline.com:
http://www.forensicpathologyonline.com/e-book/post-mortem-changes/muscularchanges
Rigor Mortis: Definition, Timeline & Stages. (n.d.). Retrieved from Study.com website:
http://study.com/academy/lesson/rigor-mortis-definition-timeline-stages.html
What causes rigor mortis? (1 July, 2008). Retrieved from HowStuffWorks.com:
http://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/death-dying/rigor-mortiscause.htm