ISSN 2326-7275
International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology | Vol. 15, No. 9, September 2026 | pp. 001-009
DOI: 10.46882/2026/IJAP/000210
Article Type: Review
Title: Rigor Mortis Revisited: Does Fascia Contribute to Post-Mortem Stiffness?
Names of Authors: John Sharkey*,¹ and Karen B. Kirkness²
Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Irish College of Osteopathic Medicine, National Training Centre, Dublin, D07 F6CR, Ireland. ²Health Professions Education Unit, Hull York Medical School, York YO10 5DD, UK.
Abstract:
Rigor mortis has conventionally been explained as the consequence of adenosine triphosphate depletion and persistent actin-myosin cross-bridge formation within skeletal muscle fibres. More than two centuries after Nysten's description of post-mortem rigidity, the explanatory framework has remained overwhelmingly muscle-centred. This hypothesis-generating narrative review examined whether fascia may contribute to post-mortem rigidity alongside skeletal muscle. Evidence from living tissues and experimental models was synthesised to identify three candidate processes: altered calcium-sensitive myofibroblast activity, changes in extracellular matrix hydration and viscoelastic behaviour, and loss of distributed force transmission across the fascial-muscular continuum. Their specific contributions after death have not been established. Regional variation in fascial density, hydration, cellular composition and loading history may help explain uneven onset, variable timing and non-linear resolution. The proposed fascia-inclusive model did not replace the established actomyosin account. It broadened the anatomical field of enquiry and identified testable questions for direct forensic and anatomical investigation.
Keywords: post-mortem physiology; calcium signalling; tensegrity; forensic science; anatomy; thanatology; mechanotransduction; extracellular matrix; myofibroblasts; post-mortem interval.
Manuscript Timeline: Received: August 12, 2026; Revised: August 31, 2026; Accepted: September 02, 2026; Published: September 29, 2026.
Citation: Sharkey J., & Kirkness K.B. (2026). Rigor Mortis Revisited: Does Fascia Contribute to Post-Mortem Stiffness? International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, 14(9), pp. 001-009. DOI: 10.46882/2026/IJAP/000210