algor mortis definition
A measured rectal temperature can give some indication of the time of death. Although the heat conduction which leads to body cooling follows an exponential decay curve, it can be approximated as a linear process: 2° Celsius during the first hour and 1° Celsius per hour until the body nears ambient temperature. At the time of death, a condition called primary flaccidity occurs. Following this, the muscles stiffen in rigor mortis. All muscles in the body are affected. Starting between two to six hours following death, rigor mortis begins with the eyelids, neck, and jaw. Algor mortis is the reduction in body temperature following death. This is generally a steady decline until matching ambient temperature, although external factors can have a significant influence. The onset of rigor mortis and its resolution partially determines the tenderness of meat. If the postslaughter meat is immediately chilled to 15°C (59°F), a phenomenon known as cold shortening occurs, where the muscle sarcomeres shrink to a third of their original length. This article is about the sign of death. For other uses, see Rigor mortis (disambiguation) . Rigor mortis (Latin: rigor stiffness, mortis of death) is one of the recognizable signs of death, caused by chemical changes in the muscles after death, causing the limbs of the corpse to stiffen. Postmortem lividity A blanchable discoloration of the skin–pink, early, purple, due to the settling of blood in the most dependent tissues; with time, the discoloration becomes fixed. See Rigor mortis. Cold shortening is caused by the release of stored calcium ions from the sarcoplasmic reticulum of muscle fibers in response to the cold stimulus. The calcium ions trigger powerful muscle contraction aided by ATP molecules. The cooling of a body after death. Algor mortis theoretically occurs at a rate of 1ºC/hour, assuming the decedent is an adult of normal weight and the ambient temperature is circa 20ºC. The rate of cooling is increased if the decedent is thin or malnourished, and if the environmental temperature is low and/or if it is windy. The degree of rigor mortis may be used in forensic pathology to determine the approximate time of death. A dead body holds its position as rigor mortis sets in. If the body is moved after death, but before rigor mortis begins, forensic techniques such as Livor mortis can be applied. Algor mortis (Latin: algor —coldness; mortis —of death) is the change in body temperature following death. This is generally a steady decline until matching ambient temperature, although external factors can have a significant influence.
It is the change in body temperature following death.