2006-11-09 05:10:45 · 21 answers · asked by Niggi 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Injuries
Rigor mortis is a condition that affects the muscles, not the bones. It is a chemical condition that occurs after death. It isn't permanent, it usually disappears after 24 hours. Then the body goes limp again.
2006-11-09 05:15:14 · answer #1 · answered by Shane L 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You probably mean rigor mortis. But this is actually caused by all the muscles contracting causing all the limbs to stiffen up. This is a bit like having cramp in every muscle. After a while the rigor mortis wears off as the muscles start to decay and the corpse becomes "floppy" again.
Rigor mortis 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.
The biochemical cause of rigor mortis is hydrolysis of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) in the muscle tissue, the chemical energy source required for movement. Myosin molecules lacking ATP become permanently fixed to actin filaments to form actomyosin complex, causing muscles to become rigid. After the pH of the muscle has become 5.5, release of autolytic enzymes stored in lysosomes takes place. The major proteolytic enzymes are Cathepsins and Calpains which act at the myofibrillar proteins and hydrolyse them. As a result, the actomyosin complex is broken down and muscles become "soft" again. This is known as "resolution of rigor".
2006-11-09 05:12:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
rigor mortis
It's not a setting of the bones, but a rigidity of the tissues. It usually lasts several hours to a few days, depending on circumstances, before everything becoming flaccid due to gases building up within the body as decay begins.
2006-11-09 05:14:19 · answer #3 · answered by lowflyer1 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rigor mortis is one of the recognisable signs of death (Latin "mors, mortis") that is caused by a chemical change in the muscles after death, causing the limbs of the corpse to become stiff (Latin "rigor") and difficult to move or manipulate. Assuming 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.
The biochemical cause of rigor mortis is hydrolysis of ATP in the muscle tissue, the chemical energy source required for movement. Myosin molecules devoid of ATP become permanently adherent to actin filaments to form actomyosin complex, causing muscles to become rigid. After the pH of the muscle has become 5.5, release of autolytic enzymes stored in lysosomes will take place. The major proteolytic enzymes are Cathepsins and Calpains. These enzymes act at the myofibrillar proteins and hydrolyse them. As a result, the actomyosin complex is broken down and muscles become "soft" again. This is known as resolution of rigor.
Your skeleton has nothing to do with it.
2006-11-09 05:15:06 · answer #4 · answered by phantomlimb7 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
actually its not the bones its the muscles and its called rigor mortis. it sets in a couple of hours after death but then a few more hours later the muscles relax again.
2006-11-09 05:19:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rigormortis.... the cadaver or deceased is stiff .. if the victim died in a awkard position such as sitting indian style in the middle of the bed and rigormortis has set in, the only way to get the patient in the body bag is to break the set bones. (sounds horrible but I've done it before).
2006-11-09 12:43:33 · answer #6 · answered by evansmd911 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This condition is called Rigomortis. This results from the protein ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate) which is in the mitochondria of muscle cells tissue. This ATP causes the muscles to contract in a fight or flight response. They tighten and dont realease. This condition sets in within a few hours of death.
2006-11-09 05:18:41 · answer #7 · answered by pegasis 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rigamortis. Its not actually that your bones are setting..It's that the tissue around the bone is hardened. Wanna know something crazy? Rigamortis is only temporary...The body eventually becomes limp again. But by that time, most people are already buried.
2006-11-09 05:13:27 · answer #8 · answered by Ronijn 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is called "rigor mortis", and it doesn't happen in the bones, but in the muscles (they get stiff because of a chemical reaction, I think).
2006-11-09 05:19:37 · answer #9 · answered by Verbena 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rigor
2006-11-09 05:12:24 · answer #10 · answered by WendyD1999 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋