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 external factor can accelerate cooling of a body after death?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Cold moving air around the body

Cold moving air increases heat loss through convection, so it can accelerate postmortem cooling; body size, clothing, environment, and initial temperature all limit the precision of time-since-death estimates.

Option by option

  • A. Thick insulating clothing

    Insulating clothing slows heat loss.

  • B. Warm humid surroundings

    Warm humid surroundings generally reduce cooling rate.

  • C. Cold moving air around the body (correct)

    Correct: cold airflow increases convective heat loss.

  • D. Large subcutaneous fat stores

    Fat stores provide insulation and tend to slow cooling.

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 C, Cold moving air around the body. Cold moving air increases heat loss through convection, so it can accelerate postmortem cooling; body size, clothing, environment, and initial temperature all limit the precision of time-since-death estimates.

Why is "Thick insulating clothing" not the answer?

Insulating clothing slows heat loss.

Why is "Warm humid surroundings" not the answer?

Warm humid surroundings generally reduce cooling rate.

Why is "Large subcutaneous fat stores" not the answer?

Fat stores provide insulation and tend to slow cooling.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Postmortem changes in Forensic Medicine. The correct option holds because: Correct: cold airflow increases convective heat loss.

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.