"A few hours after a person or animal dies, the joints of the body stiffen and become locked in place. This stiffening is called rigor mortis. It's only a temporary condition. Depending on body temperature and other conditions, rigor mortis lasts approximately 72 hours. The phenomenon is caused by the skeletal muscles partially contracting. The muscles are unable to relax, so the joints become fixed in place."
After a person is dead, their cells no longer produce the energy form needed to break a cross bridge, so the actin and myosin stay contracted producing tone. Which of the following is unable to happen in a person once dead, to break the cross bridge, causing this condition?
