How Do You Spell RIGOR MORTIS?

Pronunciation: [ɹˈɪɡə mˈɔːtiz] (IPA)

Rigor mortis is a medical term used to describe the stiffening of muscles after death. The correct spelling of the word is /ˈrɪɡər ˈmɔːtɪs/. The first syllable "rig-" is pronounced as "rig" with a short "i" sound like in "big", followed by the letter "o" pronounced as "uh", then "r" pronounced as in "run". The second part of the word "mortis" is pronounced as "mor-tis" with the emphasis on the first syllable. Understanding the IPA transcription helps us to correctly pronounce and spell medical terms like rigor mortis.

RIGOR MORTIS Meaning and Definition

1. Rigor mortis is a physiological phenomenon that occurs in the muscles of a deceased individual after death. It is defined as the stiffening and contraction of muscles that takes place within a few hours following death and can last for up to 72 hours, gradually disappearing thereafter. The term "rigor mortis" is derived from Latin, with "rigor" meaning stiffness and "mortis" referring to death.

   During life, muscle fibers continuously contract and relax due to the presence of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a molecule responsible for supplying energy to muscles. However, when an individual dies, the production of ATP stops, resulting in a lack of energy supply. Consequently, calcium ions are released, causing the muscle fibers to contract and remain rigid instead of relaxing. This process usually begins in the smaller muscles of the face and neck and then spreads to the larger muscles throughout the body.

   Notably, the onset and duration of rigor mortis can be influenced by various factors, such as body temperature, environmental conditions, individual health, and the cause of death. For instance, low temperatures can delay the onset of rigor mortis, while high temperatures can accelerate it. Similarly, significant physical exertion prior to death can hasten the onset as well.

   Rigor mortis is an important indicator for forensic scientists and pathologists since analyzing and measuring its presence and disappearance can assist in estimating the time of death and investigating the circumstances surrounding it.

2. Stiffening of the body, from one to seven hours after death, due to hardening of the muscular tissues in consequence of the coagulation of the myosinogen and paramyosinogen; it disappears after from one to five or six days, or when decomposition begins.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for RIGOR MORTIS

• eigor mortis
• digor mortis
• figor mortis
• tigor mortis
• 5igor mortis
• 4igor mortis
• rugor mortis
• rjgor mortis
• rkgor mortis
• rogor mortis
• r9gor mortis
• r8gor mortis
• rifor mortis
• rivor mortis
• ribor mortis
• rihor mortis
• riyor mortis
• ritor mortis
• rigir mortis

Etymology of RIGOR MORTIS

The word rigor mortis is derived from Latin. Rigor means stiffness or rigidness, while mortis means of death. Therefore, rigor mortis translates to the stiffness of death.