When does Rigor Mortis generally start to dissipate?

Rigor mortis is a postmortem change that occurs after death, where the muscles stiffen due to biochemical processes in the body. Typically, rigor mortis begins to develop within a few hours after death and is fully established by about 12 hours. After this peak, it generally starts to dissipate approximately 24 to 36 hours postmortem.

The correct choice indicates that rigor mortis usually starts to lessen within the 12-24 hour range, which aligns with the observed physiological changes. By around 24 hours, many factors such as temperature, body condition, and environmental conditions can influence the exact timing of rigor mortis dissipating, but it typically begins to diminish around this timeframe. Understanding rigor mortis is important for forensic investigations, as it can assist in estimating the time of death and assessing various aspects of a death scene.