What Causes Rigor Mortis?: Science, Tech, Math

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Science, Tech, Math › Science
What Causes Rigor Mortis?

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By
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Updated February 06, 2018
A few hours after a person or animal dies, the joints of the body stiffen
and become locked in place. This stiffening is called rigor mortis. It's only
a temporary condition. Depending on body temperature and other
conditions, rigor mortis lasts approximately 72 hours. The phenomenon is
caused by the skeletal muscles partially contracting. The muscles are
unable to relax, so the joints become fixed in place.
The Role of Calcium Ions and ATP

After death, the membranes of muscle cells become more permeable
to calcium ions. Living muscle cells expend energy to transport
calcium ions to the outside of the cells. The calcium ions that flow into the
muscle cells promote the cross-bridge attachment between actin and
myosin, two types of fibers that work together in muscle contraction. The
muscle fibers ratchet shorter and shorter until they are fully contracted or
as long as the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and the energy molecule
adenosine triphosphate (ATP) are present. However, muscles need ATP in
order to release from a contracted state (it is used to pump the calcium
out of the cells so the fibers can unlatch from each other).
When an organism dies, the reactions that recycle ATP eventually come to
a halt. Breathing and circulation no longer provide oxygen, but
respiration continues anaerobically for a short time. ATP reserves are
quickly exhausted from the muscle contraction and other cellular
processes. When the ATP is depleted, calcium pumping stops. This means
that the actin and myosin fibers will remain linked until the muscles
themselves start to decompose.
How Long Does Rigor Mortis Last?

Rigor mortis can be used to help estimate the time of death. Muscles
function normally immediately after death. The onset of rigor mortis may
range from 10 minutes to several hours, depending on factors including
temperature (rapid cooling of a body can inhibit rigor mortis, but it occurs
upon thawing). Under normal conditions, the process sets in within four
hours. Facial muscles and other small muscles are affected before larger
muscles. Maximum stiffness is reached around 12-24 hours post mortem.
Facial muscles are affected first, with the rigor then spreading to other
parts of the body. The joints are stiff for 1-3 days, but after this time
general tissue decay and leaking of lysosomal intracellular digestive
enzymes will cause the muscles to relax. It is interesting to note that meat
is generally considered to be more tender if it is eaten after rigor mortis
has passed.
Sources
 Hall, John E., and Arthur C. Guyton. Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical
Physiology. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders/Elsevier, 2011. MD Consult.
Web. 26 Jan. 2015.
 Peress, Robin. Rigor mortis at the crime scene. Discovery Fit & Health,
2011. Web. 4 December 2011.
Cite this Article

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What Causes Rigor Mortis?: Science, Tech, Math

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MENU

What Causes Rigor Mortis?

The Role of Calcium Ions and ATP

How Long Does Rigor Mortis Last?

Cite this Article

Facts About Muscle Tissue

Biology Prefixes and Suffixes: My- or Myo-

An Introduction to Types of Respiration

Mitochondria: Power Producers

Biology Prefixes and Suffixes: angio-

Biology Prefixes and Suffixes: arthr- or arthro-

4 Steps of Cardiac Conduction

Why Is There White Meat and Dark Meat Turkey?

Proteins in the Cell

How and Why Cells Move

All About Cellular Respiration

Fainting Goat Facts

The Function of the Heart Ventricles

Electron Transport Chain and Energy Production Explained

 Science, Tech, Math

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