Determining Time of Death - Rigor Mortis
- Created by: Sdarby
- Created on: 01-11-16 16:41
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- Rigor Mortis
- Refers to the stiffening of muscles after death
- The degree of stiffness can be used to approximate time after death
- If warm and not stiff - dead for under 3 hours
- If warm and stiff - dead for 3-8 hours
- If cold and stiff - dead for 8-36 hours
- If cold and not stiff - dead for over 36 hours
- After death muscles cells become oxygen starved
- Anaerobic respiration produces lactic acid
- pH of cells decreases, inhibiting enzymes
- ATP needed for muscle contraction is no longer produced
- Proteins can no longer move over one another to shorten the muscle
- Fixes the joint in place
- Proteins can no longer move over one another to shorten the muscle
- ATP needed for muscle contraction is no longer produced
- pH of cells decreases, inhibiting enzymes
- Anaerobic respiration produces lactic acid
- Factors affecting Rigor Mortis
- Surrounding Temperature - warm conditions speed up the process
- Optimum temperatures for bacteria growth and decay processes
- In cooler temperatures, the process development is slower
- Physical exertion prior death - EG - exercising or struggle
- Cadaveric Spasm - when rigor mortis rapidly sets in
- Fat - Acts as insulation
- The more fat a person has, the slower the development of the process
- Age/Illness - the lower the muscle mass, the quicker the development of the process
- Surrounding Temperature - warm conditions speed up the process
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