Rigor Mortis

• Explain rigor mortis

  • Stiffening of muscles
  • Small muscles stiffen
  • Large muscles stiffen
  • Larger muscles lose rigor
• In rigor mortis, why do muscles stiffen?

  • No O2 after death
  • No aerobic respiration
  • Cells use anaerobic respiration
  • Builds up lactic acid
  • Inhibits enzymes that produce ATP - ATP synthase
  • Muscles stiffen as
  • No ATP to break actin-myosin cross bridge
• What factor affects rigor mortis?

  Temp