muscular stiffening that begins 2 to 4 hours after death and last for about 4 days

stiffening of a body that occurs after death

The cooling of the body and increased rigidity of muscles that sets in after death.

The stiffness that occurs in the body after death.

Stiffening of the body after death.

The permanent contraction of skeletal muscle associated with death.

Rigidity of the muscles which occurs at death.

Rigor mortis is one of the recognizable signs of death (Latin "mors, mortis") that is caused by a chemical change in the muscles after death, causing the limbs of the corpse to become stiff (Latin "rigor") and difficult to move or manipulate. Assuming mild temperatures, rigor usually sets in about 3-4 hours after clinical death, with full rigor being in effect at about 12 hours, and eventually subsiding to relaxation at about 36 hours. Times for the onset of rigor mortis can vary from a few minutes to several hours depending on the ambient temperature.

Rigor Mortis is a thrash metal band that formed in 1983. Two schoolmates Harden Harrison and Casey Orr formed the band when they met Mike Scaccia. The three young men shared an interest in horror/gore films and very heavy music.