A 23-year-old man loses consciousness while driving, hits a tree, and dies within 15 minutes. The police find his stiff body 5 hours later. Rigor mortis is caused by a decrease in which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Rigor mortis is caused by a decrease in muscle adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels. After death, the body ceases to produce ATP, which is necessary for muscle relaxation. Without ATP, myosin molecules in the muscles remain attached to actin, causing the muscles to become stiff.

A 23-Year-Old Man Loses Consciousness While Driving, Hits a Tree