I was watching an episode of CSI and there was a guy who was shot while stuffed in a trunk. He was then placed in the woods to make it look like a hunting accident. The CSI team ruled out the hunting thing because the body had returned to the position which it was in at the moment of death as part of the rigamortice process which the termed "Body Positioning". When talking about this at work I was called a gullable moron. I still think it sounds plasable, is there any truth to this at all?
2006-09-18 19:03:27 · 8 answers · asked by Mark R 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
After death, a chemical change in the muscles, causes the limbs of the corpse to become stiff (Rigor mortis) and difficult to move or manipulate. In mild temperatures, rigor usually sets in about 3-4 hours after clinical death, with full rigor being in effect at about 12 hours, and eventually subsiding to relaxation at about 36 hours. Times for the onset of rigor mortis can vary from a few minutes to several hours depending on the temperature of the environment in which the body is found.
Biochemical or enzymatic changes then takes place in a certain stages which ends in making muscles become "soft" again. This is known as resolution of rigor.
So to answer your wonderings, if the rigor mortis has not yet resolved then it will be difficult to change the position of the corpse is in not unless with the use of some restraining eqipment as tie. Once the corpse has resolved the rigor then the position can be modified.
Check out the link for further details.
2006-09-19 00:55:05 · answer #1 · answered by ♥ lani s 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rigor Mortis does not set in immedietly after death. It sets on gradually. After rigor mortis has set in, the body stays rigid at the posture it was at rigor mortis. Putting the body in a trunk for a short while might not take the posture out of the dead body, but if the body stays in the trunk for long enough they might not be able to tell the posture, just depends on how long it was in there for. (CSI is not real life so be sceptical. I am not a real Doctor. do not use my info if you are really trying to get rid of a real body. LOL
2006-09-18 19:11:01 · answer #2 · answered by kevoh 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if they were indeed in the trunk for a good period of time, would be the deciding factor here,,,,
rigor mortise would have had to set in for this to happen.... once it does, all the inner body fluids and muscles kind of "gel" together and create a memory so to speak (like bending spring steel,,,, it has memory and will bend back).... and to straighten the limbs back out can be done,,,, but they will return to as close as possibly allowed , depending on obstructions surrounding the body, to their original position at the time of rigor mortise occurring.
so, yes,,,, its possible.
2006-09-18 19:23:46 · answer #3 · answered by steelmadison 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, probably so. I hope I don't die in a weird position.
2006-09-18 19:08:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
Doug
2006-09-18 19:09:38 · answer #5 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No I don't think so.
It's a TV show..
2006-09-18 19:11:15 · answer #6 · answered by Amanda 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you know i really don't know but that is a good one
2006-09-18 19:12:17 · answer #7 · answered by kmami 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YOU"RE WATCHING TOOOOOOOOO MUCH TV!!!!!!!
FIND ANOTHER HOBBY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2006-09-21 10:50:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋