Which term describes the phenomenon commonly known as the "death grip," where fingers cannot easily be pried from an object?

The term "Cadaveric Spasm" accurately describes the phenomenon commonly referred to as the "death grip," where fingers remain tightly clenched around an object after death. This phenomenon occurs in certain circumstances, particularly during moments of extreme stress or physical exertion before death, where the muscles can lock in their current position due to a lack of relaxation that typically follows death. Cadaveric spasm is different from rigor mortis, which is a later stage of post-mortem muscle stiffening that affects the entire body and can take hours to develop.

In contrast, rigor mortis involves a more systemic process where muscles stiffen over time due to biochemical changes. Post-Mortem Contraction refers to muscle contractions that can occur immediately after death but is less specific than the phenomenon of cadaveric spasm. Thanatopsis, while related to the contemplation of death, does not pertain to physiological responses in corpses.

Understanding cadaveric spasm is important in forensic science as it can provide information about the circumstances surrounding a person's death, including their final activities or emotional state.