Question

When a dead body is exposed to freezing temperatures, cold stiffening of the body occurs due to solidification of:

• A. Proteins present in the body
• B. Carbohydrates present in the body
• C. Fats present in the body
• D. Minerals present in the body

Hint:

Remember the difference: Rigor Mortis is {chemical} (ATP depletion) and disappears with decomposition. Cold Stiffening is {physical} (freezing of fats/fluids) and disappears upon thawing the body.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The stiffening of a body in cold temperatures is known as cold stiffening or frost rigor.
Step 1: Differentiate from rigor mortis. Rigor mortis is a chemical change involving the depletion of ATP and binding of actin and myosin in the muscles. Cold stiffening is a physical phenomenon, not a chemical one.

Step 2: Identify the cause of cold stiffening. At freezing temperatures, the fluids and tissues of the body freeze. Subcutaneous and other fats in the body solidify, causing the limbs and tissues to become hard and stiff.

Step 3: Evaluate the options. While all components will freeze, the primary cause of the characteristic hardness and stiffness is the solidification of fats and the freezing of synovial fluid in the joints. Among the given options, the solidification of fats is the most accurate cause.