A forensic pathologist notes that on sectioning rigor mortis-affected muscle at autopsy, the muscle has a pale, cooked appearance and fails to exhibit the normal rigor on sustained contraction. This change is MOST consistent with:

• A Cadaveric spasm
• B Cold stiffening
• C Putrefaction-related gas stiffening
• D Heat stiffening ✓

Explanation

Heat stiffening occurs when a body is exposed to high temperatures (burns, fire); proteins coagulate, causing the muscles to adopt a pale, cooked 'lobster' appearance with limbs fixed in flexion due to greater bulk of flexor muscles. This must be distinguished from rigor mortis (lactic acid/ATP depletion mechanism) and from cold stiffening (ice-crystal formation, disappears on rewarming) or cadaveric spasm (instantaneous rigor at time of death in specific muscle groups).

Reference: The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (Narayan Reddy), 34th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.