Where is rigor mortis first seen in the body?

• A. Palms
• B. Cheeks
• C. Phalanges (fingers/toes)
• D. Soles

Answer: (C)

At death, muscles stiffen because ATP runs out and calcium leaks into the muscle cells, causing actin-moments to form cross-bridges that can’t detach. The pattern of this stiffening isn’t the same for every muscle; it tends to appear first in the small, distal muscles that cool fastest and have quick, high-demand activity right before death. The intrinsic muscles of the fingers and toes—those near the phalanges—are compact and show early changes, so the initial rigor is typically observable there. From that starting point, the rigidity then progresses to larger muscle groups as the process continues and body temperature falls further. So, seeing the early stiffness in the fingers and toes makes the phalangeal region the best answer for where rigor mortis is first seen.