The stiffening of muscles that starts 3–4 hours after death.
It is usually complete after about 12 hours; the stiffness then disappears over the next 48–60 hours.
Physical exertion before death makes rigor mortis begin sooner.
The sooner rigor mortis begins, the quicker it passes.
These facts are used to help assess the time of death.
the stiffening of a body that occurs within some eight hours of death in temperate climates, due to chemical changes in muscle tissue. It usually starts to disappear after about 24 hours.
Shivering. If prolonged, it is generally accompanied by fever, and may be a sign of the onset of some acute disease such as INFLUENZA, PNEUMONIA, or some internal in?ammation. Rigor mortis is the name given to the sti?ness that ensues soon after death. (See DEATH, SIGNS OF; MUSCLE.)... rigor
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