View source for Rigor mortis

Rigor mortis is the permanent semi-contraction of skeletal [[Muscle|muscle]] after death. The effects of this condition can first be seen as early as two hours post death<ref>http://www.deathreference.com/Py-Se/Rigor-Mortis-and-Other-Postmortem-Changes.html</ref><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">.&nbsp;</span>It causes the body to become extremely 'stiff' and 'rigid'. The length of time that rigor mortis lasts for is dependant on environmental factors, for example temperature, but typically lasts for around 70 hours. Rigor mortis happens for two reasons, firstly because [[ATP|ATP]] supplies run out and secondly because [[Calcium|calcium]] [[Ions|ions]] are not being pumped out of the [[Sarcoplasmic reticulum|sarcoplasm]]. These two factors mean that the '[[Cross bridge formation|cross-bridges]]' between the [[Myosin|myosin]] heads and [[Actin filaments|actin filaments]] in skeletal muscle cannot break, and thus the muscle is unable to relax. Rigor mortis ends when lysosomal [[Enzyme|enzymes]] have broken down the Z lines and [[Titan filament|titan filaments]]<ref>Martini, Fundamentals of Anatomy &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Physiology, Eighth Edition, Published 2009 by Pearson Eduction, Page 311</ref>.

=== References  ===

<references />&nbsp;