v.saisriniwasan
Sai Vadlamani
Rigor mortis is the most recognisable sign of death where the corpse becomes stiff and is difficult to move or manipulate. It is derived from the Latin words: rigor which means stiffness and mortis which means death. In humans, it typically commences after about three to four hours and reaches maximum stiffness after 12 hours. It totaly dissipates after 48 to 60 hours after death.
After death, cellular respiration ceases, depleting the corpse of oxygen and the body stiffens due to chemical reactions. Rigor Mortis is extremely important in forensic sciences. A body goes stiff in the position it was in when the person dies. If the position in which a body is found does not match where it is found. For example, if it is flat on its back with one leg up, that could mean someone moved it.
It also helps investigators determine the time of death. However, rigor mortis slows down in cold temperatures. When conditions are warm, the onset and pace of rigor mortis are sped up by providing a conducive environment for the metabolic processes that cause decay. Therefore, a person who dies outside in freezing temperatures may experience rigor mortis over several days more than normal. So investigators may have to abandon it as a tool for determining time of death.
After death, cellular respiration ceases, depleting the corpse of oxygen and the body stiffens due to chemical reactions. Rigor Mortis is extremely important in forensic sciences. A body goes stiff in the position it was in when the person dies. If the position in which a body is found does not match where it is found. For example, if it is flat on its back with one leg up, that could mean someone moved it.
It also helps investigators determine the time of death. However, rigor mortis slows down in cold temperatures. When conditions are warm, the onset and pace of rigor mortis are sped up by providing a conducive environment for the metabolic processes that cause decay. Therefore, a person who dies outside in freezing temperatures may experience rigor mortis over several days more than normal. So investigators may have to abandon it as a tool for determining time of death.