2007-02-25 15:24:53 · 5 answers · asked by Blaine Tabitha 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
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. Depending on 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.
Rigor mortis can be used to help estimate time of 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). 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.
2007-02-25 15:33:11 · answer #1 · answered by It's me D! 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is the stiffness of muscle after death...
during muscle contraction, myosin heads bind to actin and the ATP on it is hydrolysed so it changes it conformation and moves actin filament causing muscle to contract on the whole. The myosin head remains attached to the actin filament and ATP have to bind to it to make it leave the actin for another round of 'pushing' of the acting filament for muscle contraction...
In death, the body lacks ATP thus the myosin head remain attached to the actin filaments in myofilaments of muscles, leading to stiffness of the muscle --> rigor mortis
2007-02-25 21:18:32 · answer #2 · answered by lam_tensai 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a chemical change in the muscles after death. ATP is a chemical that allows muscle movement, and it breaks down after death, making the muscles harder to move.
2007-02-25 15:33:48 · answer #3 · answered by LolaCorolla 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it happens after u die. your body starts to get stiff from the lack of fluids and muscles.
2007-02-25 15:32:45 · answer #4 · answered by runescapegirl92 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-04-01 09:26:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋