ASIS International (ASIS) Professional Certified Investigator Practice Exam

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What does rigor mortis refer to?

Loss of body heat
Discoloration of the skin
Stiffening of the muscles
Decay of the body

The correct answer is: Stiffening of the muscles

Rigor mortis refers to the stiffening of the muscles that occurs after death due to chemical changes in the muscle tissue. Following death, the body undergoes a series of physiological changes, one of which is the depletion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), leading to the muscles becoming rigid and inflexible. This process typically begins within a few hours after death and can last for up to 72 hours, depending on various factors such as temperature and the condition of the body. Understanding rigor mortis is essential in forensic investigations as it can provide vital information regarding the time of death and the post-mortem interval. Contextualizing rigor mortis within the broader spectrum of post-mortem changes, such as livor mortis and algor mortis, supports investigators in constructing a timeline of events surrounding the death.