Asphyxial deaths: 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.

Try it

Forensic Medicine · Asphyxial deaths

Sample item

Which finding can support an asphyxial mechanism in manual strangulation when interpreted with other evidence?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Petechial haemorrhages with neck soft-tissue injury

Manual strangulation may cause neck muscle haemorrhage, bruising, petechiae, and congestion, but no single finding is diagnostic; careful internal neck examination and scene correlation are essential.

Option by option

  • A. Bilateral cataracts

    Cataracts are lens opacities unrelated to acute neck compression.

  • B. A healed wrist fracture

    A healed fracture does not indicate an acute asphyxial event.

  • C. Petechial haemorrhages with neck soft-tissue injury (correct)

    Correct: neck injury plus petechiae may support strangulation.

  • D. Isolated callus on the heel

    Heel callus is a chronic pressure-related skin change.

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 C, Petechial haemorrhages with neck soft-tissue injury. Manual strangulation may cause neck muscle haemorrhage, bruising, petechiae, and congestion, but no single finding is diagnostic; careful internal neck examination and scene correlation are essential.

Why is "Bilateral cataracts" not the answer?

Cataracts are lens opacities unrelated to acute neck compression.

Why is "A healed wrist fracture" not the answer?

A healed fracture does not indicate an acute asphyxial event.

Why is "Isolated callus on the heel" not the answer?

Heel callus is a chronic pressure-related skin change.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Asphyxial deaths in Forensic Medicine. The correct option holds because: Correct: neck injury plus petechiae may support strangulation.

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 deaths?

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.