Which of the following best describes Rigor mortis?

Rigor mortis is the phenomenon that occurs after death where the muscles stiffen due to biochemical changes within the body. This stiffening begins typically a few hours post-mortem and can last for several days, depending on various factors such as temperature. It is a key aspect that forensic professionals assess to help determine the state of a body post-mortem.

While some choices may refer to aspects related to death or the time of death, they do not specifically define rigor mortis as accurately as the correct choice does. For instance, suggesting that rigor mortis indicates the cause of death or accurately determines the time of death does not align with its biological definition. Instead, it serves primarily as a physical response that indicates the body has undergone certain changes after life has ceased.