Cadaveric rigidity is the stiffening of a corpse shortly after death. The spelling of this term can be daunting, but it can be broken down efficiently with the use of IPA phonetic transcription. The first word, cadaveric, is pronounced /kəˈdævərɪk/. The second word, rigidity, is pronounced /rɪˈɡɪdɪtɪ/. Together, they create the term /kəˈdævərɪk rɪˈɡɪdɪtɪ/. Although it may appear challenging at first glance, the use of IPA transcription can help simplify the spelling and pronunciation of complex medical terminology.
Cadaveric rigidity refers to the stiffening or stiffness of a deceased body shortly after death. It is also commonly known as rigor mortis. This phenomenon occurs as a result of chemical changes in the muscles of the body, specifically the skeletal muscles, causing them to contract and become rigid.
Cadaveric rigidity usually begins within a few hours after death and reaches its maximum intensity after approximately 12 hours. The rigidity typically starts in the smaller muscles, such as those in the face and neck, and gradually spreads to the larger muscles of the limbs and trunk. The stiffness can be felt throughout the body, making it difficult to move or manipulate the limbs.
The process of cadaveric rigidity is driven by the depletion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a compound that provides energy for muscle contraction. After death, the body's metabolism ceases, and the levels of ATP gradually decrease. As ATP is required for muscle relaxation, its decline leads to a state of constant muscle contraction, resulting in the characteristic stiffening.
The duration of cadaveric rigidity varies depending on several factors including ambient temperature, the individual's physical condition prior to death, and the cause of death. Generally, the rigidity lasts for around 24-48 hours before gradually subsiding. After this, the muscles return to a flaccid state due to the breakdown of muscle proteins and decomposition processes.
Cadaveric rigidity is a crucial indicator used in forensic medicine to estimate the time of death, as the onset and duration can provide valuable insights into the timeline of events after a person's passing.
Rigor mortis.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The term "cadaveric rigidity" comes from the combination of two words: "cadaver" and "rigidity".
"Cadaver" originated from the Latin word "cadaver", which means a lifeless body, specifically referring to a dead body used for dissection or study. The word itself comes from the verb "cadere", meaning "to fall".
"Rigidity", on the other hand, comes from the Latin word "rigidus", which means stiff or rigid. It is derived from the verb "rigere", meaning "to be stiff or rigid".
Therefore, "cadaveric rigidity" is a term used in the field of forensic pathology to describe the stiffening of a body after death, also known as rigor mortis.