Rigormortis

[GarryDrold]

Stiffening of the joints and muscles of a body a few hours after death, usually lasting from one to four days.

[Greta]

Rigor mortis, which translates from Latin as stiffness of death, sets in quickly and usually ends three or four days after death. The condition results from a lack of certain chemicals in the muscles; it may be affected by muscular activity before death as well as the external temperature.