Postmortem changes: 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 · Postmortem changes

Sample item

Which statement best describes rigor mortis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Postmortem stiffening caused by biochemical changes in muscle

Rigor mortis is postmortem muscle stiffening related to depletion of ATP and persistent actin-myosin binding; its onset and duration vary with temperature, activity before death, and body habitus.

Option by option

  • A. Settling of blood in dependent areas

    Dependent discoloration from blood settling is lividity.

  • B. Postmortem stiffening caused by biochemical changes in muscle (correct)

    Correct: ATP depletion produces postmortem muscular stiffness.

  • C. Cooling of the body after death

    Body cooling is called algor mortis.

  • D. A bruising pattern from blunt force

    A bruise is an antemortem soft-tissue haemorrhage, not rigor mortis.

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.

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Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is B, Postmortem stiffening caused by biochemical changes in muscle. Rigor mortis is postmortem muscle stiffening related to depletion of ATP and persistent actin-myosin binding; its onset and duration vary with temperature, activity before death, and body habitus.

Why is "Settling of blood in dependent areas" not the answer?

Dependent discoloration from blood settling is lividity.

Why is "Cooling of the body after death" not the answer?

Body cooling is called algor mortis.

Why is "A bruising pattern from blunt force" not the answer?

A bruise is an antemortem soft-tissue haemorrhage, not rigor mortis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Postmortem changes in Forensic Medicine. The correct option holds because: Correct: ATP depletion produces postmortem muscular stiffness.

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 Postmortem changes?

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.