Determining Time Of Death

Question 1

Rigor Mortis steps

Answer 1

1. After death breathing stops so no oxygen enters the body.
2. Muscle cells are starved of oxygen.
3. Muscle cells can no longer perform aerobic respiration so do anaerobic respiration instead.
4. Anaerobic respiration produces lactic acid in muscle cells.
5. Ph lowers in muscles due to lactic acid build up and so enzymes in the muscle cells are denatured.
6. Due to denatured enzymes, anaerobic respiration also stops in muscle cells.
7. ATP required for muscle contraction is no longer made as no respiration (both anaerobic and aerobic) is occurring. This causes bonds between muscle proteins to be fixed.
8. The proteins can no longer move. Fixed muscles and joints.