Question:
Which structure is affected first in rigor mortis?
Which structure is affected first in rigor mortis?
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Nysten's rule - involuntary muscle before voluntary, so the heart leads.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
- Eyelids
- Myocardium
- Jaw
- Neck
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Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Rigor mortis is the postmortem stiffening and slight shortening of muscles caused by depletion of ATP, which prevents detachment of actin and myosin.
Step 2: It involves all muscles, both voluntary and involuntary, but not simultaneously. The order is governed by Nysten's rule.
Step 3: Involuntary muscle is affected before voluntary muscle, so the heart (myocardium) is the first structure to develop rigor. This makes option (b) correct.
Step 4: The classic sequence among the listed parts is heart, then upper eyelid, then neck, then jaw, then face downwards. Eyelids, neck and jaw therefore come after the myocardium and are not the first.
Step 2: It involves all muscles, both voluntary and involuntary, but not simultaneously. The order is governed by Nysten's rule.
Step 3: Involuntary muscle is affected before voluntary muscle, so the heart (myocardium) is the first structure to develop rigor. This makes option (b) correct.
Step 4: The classic sequence among the listed parts is heart, then upper eyelid, then neck, then jaw, then face downwards. Eyelids, neck and jaw therefore come after the myocardium and are not the first.
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