What is the condition called when the body becomes less rigid after death as part of the decomposition process?

The condition described, where the body becomes less rigid after death as part of the decomposition process, is known as post-mortem flexibility and is not rigor mortis. Rigor mortis refers specifically to the stiffening of muscles that occurs after death due to biochemical changes in muscle tissue. This rigidity can last for several hours to days, after which the muscles begin to relax again as the body enters subsequent stages of decomposition.

In the context of decomposition, after rigor mortis has passed, the body can undergo a phase where it may exhibit some degree of flexibility again. This condition reflects the natural process of tissue breakdown and the effects of enzymes and bacteria that begin to decompose the body's tissues.

Understanding the stages of rigor mortis and how they relate to post-mortem changes is crucial in forensic science and medicolegal death investigation, as they help in estimating the time of death and understanding the post-mortem interval. This is vital for determining the circumstances surrounding a death.