When a person dies rigor mortis sets in as ATP synthesis cea

When a person dies, rigor mortis sets in as ATP synthesis ceases, Explain why the lack of ATP in muscle cells would cause the muscles to become rigid rather than limp soon after death?

Solution

The person when dies, rigor mortis sets in as ATP synthesis ceases the  hydrolysis of ATP is what drives the sequestration of Ca+2 away from the troponin C and into the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Without ATP Ca+2 cannot be pumped away from the troponin C and the muscle stays contracted ATP is always associated with action this is different for muscles

Within hours of the time of death every muscle in the body contracts and remains contracted for a period of time muscles have many different levels beginning with the individual muscle fibers muscle fibers are composed of tissue units called sarcomeres.

Muscle contraction begins in the brain with a nerve impulse sent down the spinal cord to a motor neuron the neuromuscular junction also referred to as the myoneural junction releases acetylcholine when the action potential reaches the junction.