Question

Which one is correct about the sequence of rigor mortis?

• A. Centre to periphery
• B. Head to foot
• C. Foot to head
• D. Simultaneously

Hint:

Rigor mortis begins in the small muscles of the face and progresses down the body, ending in the lower extremities.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Rigor mortis is the postmortem stiffening of the body's muscles due to biochemical changes in muscle tissues, occurring after death. The sequence of rigor mortis describes the order in which the stiffness develops and progresses within the body.

The correct sequence of rigor mortis is from head to foot, meaning the stiffness typically begins in the smaller muscles of the face and neck and then progresses downward towards the larger muscles of the trunk, limbs, and finally the feet.

This progression is primarily due to the involuntary nature of smaller muscle groups succumbing first, akin to how they would respond to fatigue or biochemical changes more rapidly during life.