Lihasjäykistyminen

Lihasjäykistyminen, also known as muscle stiffness or rigor mortis, is a temporary or permanent state of increased muscle tone. In living organisms, it can manifest as a feeling of tightness or resistance to movement, often occurring after strenuous exercise or due to certain medical conditions. This sensation is generally benign and resolves with rest, stretching, or appropriate treatment.

In the context of post-mortem changes, lihasjäykistyminen refers to the stiffening of muscles that occurs after death. This phenomenon is caused by a biochemical process where the muscle fibers remain contracted due to a lack of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is necessary for muscle relaxation. Rigor mortis typically begins a few hours after death, reaches its peak within 12-24 hours, and gradually disappears as muscle tissue begins to decompose. The onset and duration can be influenced by factors such as ambient temperature and the individual's physical condition at the time of death. Understanding lihasjäykistyminen is important in forensic science for estimating the time of death.