Rigor mortis is a postmortem change resulting in the stiffening of the body muscles due to chemical changes in their myofibrils.
The timing for rigor mortis includes four significant stages of rigor mortis: autolysis, bloat, active decay, and skeletonization.
| POSTMORTEM CHANGE | DEFINITION |
| Algor mortis | The process by which the body cools after death. |
| Livor mortis | The purple-red coloration that appears on dependent portions of the body other than areas exposed to pressure after the heart ceases to beat. |
| Pallor mortis | A paleness that develops in a corpse approximately 15 minutes to 2 hours after death. |
| Rigor mortis | The postmortem stiffening of the body’s muscles. |
