Escape speculations

[Houmes]

(06-19-2015 11:50 AM)L Verge Wrote:  Question for our doctors out there -- how long does rigor mortis last? For some reason, I have always thought that the body relaxes itself after a few hours. Also, would the movement of fluids within the body soon after death have accounted for any change in composition?

Rigor mortis is the result of chemistry and anatomy. After death the body is initially flaccid, although metabolic processes at a cellular level continue until acid production from early decomposition locks chemical bonds in the muscle proteins. Eventually, with further decomposition changes, the chemical bonds break down, and the body again becomes flaccid.

Under average conditions in temperate climates, rigor starts within 30 minutes to one hour, increases to a maximum within 12 hours, remains about 12 hours, and progressively disappears within the following 12 hours. Small muscles (hands, mouth, eyelids, neck) are involved first, before large muscles (thighs and arms). Some authors note rigor mortis can average as short as 6 hour intervals.

Several factors affect the cycle of rigor mortis, no matter what you may see on the CSI television shows. Factors influencing the approximate timing or presence of rigor include: body mass (rigor is not always present in children or frail adults, particularly those who suffered from starvation), prior exercise, seizures before death, fever or hot environment (high temperature exposure may shorten the entire rigor cycle to 9-12 hours), dehydration, electrocution, drugs in the body (strychnine hastens the process, carbon monoxide poisoning slows it), and diseases such as renal failure. Hypothermia and cold environments (as opposed to heat) slow the process, unless the individual died with extreme (below zero) exposure and are frozen.

Rigor mortis also produces some normal but odd findings. Most strands of body hair have tiny muscles which can be affected by rigor, producing "goose flesh." In combination with the dehydrating effect of embalming fluid, this may make the hair appear to have grown after death.