Rigor mortis

• What factors affect post-mortem cooling?

  • Body position
  • Clothing
  • Air movement
  • Body size
  • Environmental temperature
  • Immersion in water
• How does clothing affect the estimated time of death?

  It reduces heat loss, making time shorter
• How does body position affect the estimated time of death?

  Curling up reduces exposed surface area
• What is rigor mortis?

  The stiffening of muscles after death
• Why does rigor mortis occur?

  Due to lack of ATP production in muscles
• How can rigor mortis be used to determine time of death?

  By assessing the progression of muscle stiffness
• What factors affect the development of rigor mortis?

  Temperature, drug use, and physical activity
• What happens to muscle cells after death?

  They become anaerobic and produce lactic acid
• How does the presence of clothing affect rigor mortis development?

  Clothing accelerates rigor mortis development
• How does physical activity before death affect rigor mortis?

  It accelerates the onset of rigor mortis
• How does body weight influence the rate of rigor mortis?

  Obese bodies slow rigor, thin bodies accelerate it
• What happens to muscle proteins during rigor mortis?

  They become fixed and cannot move
• What is the relationship between rigor mortis and muscle contraction?

  Rigor mortis is caused by fixed muscle contraction
• What is the typical time frame for complete rigor mortis development?

  6-9 hours after death
• How does the order of muscle stiffness development relate to rigor mortis?

  Smaller muscles stiffen before larger ones
• What is the effect of physical activity on rigor mortis development?

  It accelerates the onset of rigor mortis
• How does the pH of muscle cells affect rigor mortis?

  Lower pH inhibits enzyme activity and rigor onset
• How does the presence of fat affect rigor mortis development?

  Fat stores oxygen, slowing rigor onset
• How does the presence of microorganisms influence the carbon cycle?

  They help recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem