Asphyxial death: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Forensic Medicine · Asphyxial death

Sample item

What mechanism causes death in hanging?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Neck compression by ligature force

Hanging causes compression of neck structures by a ligature tightened by body weight or partial body weight, impairing venous, arterial, and airway function.

Option by option

  • A. Neck compression by ligature force (correct)

    Correct: ligature neck compression is central to hanging.

  • B. Poison absorption

    Poison absorption is a toxicologic mechanism.

  • C. Heat loss

    Heat loss describes hypothermia, not hanging.

  • D. Coronary thrombosis only

    Coronary thrombosis is not the defining hanging mechanism.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Forensic Medicine questions

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is A, Neck compression by ligature force. Hanging causes compression of neck structures by a ligature tightened by body weight or partial body weight, impairing venous, arterial, and airway function.

Why is "Poison absorption" not the answer?

Poison absorption is a toxicologic mechanism.

Why is "Heat loss" not the answer?

Heat loss describes hypothermia, not hanging.

Why is "Coronary thrombosis only" not the answer?

Coronary thrombosis is not the defining hanging mechanism.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Asphyxial death in Forensic Medicine. The correct option holds because: Correct: ligature neck compression is central to hanging.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Asphyxial death?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.