Rigor mortis

Rigor mortis
Stages of death

Pallor mortis
Algor mortis
Rigor mortis
Livor mortis
Putrefaction
Decomposition
Skeletonization

v · d · e

Rigor mortis (Latin meaning "stiffness of death") is one of the recognizable signs of death that is caused by a chemical change in the muscles after death, causing the limbs of the corpse to become stiff and difficult to move or manipulate.[1] In humans it commences after about 3 hours, reaches maximum stiffness after about 7 hours, and gradually dissipates until approximately 72 hours (3 days) after death.[citation needed] Heat sources such as fire can speed up the process of rigor mortis.

Contents

Biochemistry

After death, cellular respiration in organisms ceases to occur, depleting the corpse of oxygen used in the making of Adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is no longer provided to operate the SERCA pumps in the membrane of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, which pump calcium ions into the terminal cisternae.[1] This causes calcium ions to diffuse from the area of higher concentration (in the terminal cisternae and extracellular fluid) to an area of lower concentration (in the sarcomere), binding with troponin and allowing for crossbridging to occur between myosin and actin proteins. [2]

Unlike in a normal muscle contraction, after death the body is unable to complete the cycle and release the coupling between the myosin and actin, creating a perpetual state of muscular contraction, until the breakdown of muscle tissue by digestive enzymes during decomposition. As part of the process of decomposition, the myosin heads are eaten off by bacteria, allowing the muscle contraction to release and the body to relax.[1][3]

Applications in industry

Rigor mortis is very important in meat technology. The onset of rigor mortis and its resolution partially determines the tenderness of meat. If the post-slaughter meat is immediately chilled to 15°C (59°F), a phenomenon known as cold shortening occurs, where the muscle shrinks to a third of its original size. This will lead to the loss of water from the meat along with many of the vitamins, minerals, and water soluble proteins. The loss of water makes the meat hard and interferes with the manufacturing of several meat products like cutlet and sausage.[citation needed]

Cold shortening is caused by the release of stored calcium ions from the sarcoplasmic reticulum of muscle fibers in response to the cold stimulus. The calcium ions trigger powerful muscle contraction aided by ATP molecules. To prevent cold shortening, a process known as electrical stimulation is carried out, especially in beef carcasses, immediately after slaughter and skinning. In this process, the carcass is stimulated with alternating current, causing it to contract and relax, which depletes the ATP reserve from the carcass and prevents cold shortening.[4]

Application in forensic pathology

The degree of rigor mortis may be used in forensic pathology to determine the approximate time of death.[5]

See also

References


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  • Rigor mortis — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda El rígor mortis o rigor mortis es un signo reconocible de muerte (del latín mortis) que es causado por un cambio químico en los músculos que causa un estado de rigidez (del latín rigor) e inflexibilidad en las… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Rigor mortis — Rigor Ri gor, n. [L. See {Rigor}., below.] 1. Rigidity; stiffness. [1913 Webster] 2. (ed.) A sense of chilliness, with contraction of the skin; a convulsive shuddering or tremor, as in the chill preceding a fever. [1913 Webster] {Rigor caloris}[L …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • rigor mortis — m. med. Rigidez cadavérica. Medical Dictionary. 2011. rigor mortis Endurecimiento …   Diccionario médico

  • rigor mortis — 1837, from L. rigor stiffness (see RIGOR (Cf. rigor)) + mortis, gen. of mors death (see MORTAL (Cf. mortal)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • rígor mortis — Loc. lat. que significa literalmente ‘rigidez de muerte’. Se usa como locución nominal masculina para referirse a la rigidez que adquiere un cadáver a las pocas horas de la muerte: «El rígor mortis comenzaba a endurecer las extremidades de su… …   Diccionario panhispánico de dudas

  • Rigor mortis — (lat.), Totenstarre, s. Muskeln, S. 322 …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • rigor mortis — n. The stiffness that overcomes a body after death. The Essential Law Dictionary. Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. Amy Hackney Blackwell. 2008 …   Law dictionary

  • rígor mortis — (Loc. lat.); literalmente, rigidez de muerte ). m. Estado de rigidez e inflexibilidad que adquiere un cadáver pocas horas después de la muerte …   Diccionario de la lengua española

  • rigor mortis — ► NOUN ▪ stiffening of the joints and muscles a few hours after death, lasting from one to four days. ORIGIN Latin, stiffness of death …   English terms dictionary

  • rigor mortis — [rig′ər môr′tis; ] occas. [ rī′gôr] n. [ModL, stiffness of death] the progressive stiffening of the muscles that occurs several hours after death as a result of the coagulation of the muscle protein …   English World dictionary

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