Mechanical injuries: 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 · Mechanical injuries

Sample item

Why are injuries on the forearms and hands important in an assault examination?

AThey prove the person was intoxicatedBThey establish the time of death preciselyCThey may represent defensive injuriesDThey identify the exact weapon automatically

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. They may represent defensive injuries

Forearm and hand injuries may occur when a person raises the limbs to block blows or grasp a weapon, so they can support an assault history but must always be interpreted with the full scene and clinical context.

Option by option

A. They prove the person was intoxicated
Defensive injuries do not prove intoxication.
B. They establish the time of death precisely
They do not provide a precise standalone estimate of death time.
C. They may represent defensive injuries (correct)
Correct: raised limbs may sustain defensive injury during an assault.
D. They identify the exact weapon automatically
Their appearance cannot by itself identify an exact weapon.

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.

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is C, They may represent defensive injuries. Forearm and hand injuries may occur when a person raises the limbs to block blows or grasp a weapon, so they can support an assault history but must always be interpreted with the full scene and clinical context.

Why is "They prove the person was intoxicated" not the answer?

Defensive injuries do not prove intoxication.

Why is "They establish the time of death precisely" not the answer?

They do not provide a precise standalone estimate of death time.

Why is "They identify the exact weapon automatically" not the answer?

Their appearance cannot by itself identify an exact weapon.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Mechanical injuries in Forensic Medicine. The correct option holds because: Correct: raised limbs may sustain defensive injury during an assault.

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 Mechanical injuries?

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.