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.

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Forensic Medicine · Asphyxial deaths

Sample item

How is a typical ligature mark in complete hanging often oriented?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Obliquely upward toward the knot

In typical hanging, the ligature mark often runs obliquely upward toward the suspension point and may be incomplete near the knot, whereas a horizontal complete mark can suggest other ligature compression patterns.

Option by option

  • A. Obliquely upward toward the knot (correct)

    Correct: an oblique upward course is typical in hanging.

  • B. Randomly distributed over the abdomen

    Abdominal distribution is unrelated to the usual neck finding.

  • C. Horizontally around the entire neck

    A horizontal circumferential mark is more typical of ligature strangulation.

  • D. Vertically down the chest

    A chest mark does not describe a neck ligature in hanging.

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 A, Obliquely upward toward the knot. In typical hanging, the ligature mark often runs obliquely upward toward the suspension point and may be incomplete near the knot, whereas a horizontal complete mark can suggest other ligature compression patterns.

Why is "Randomly distributed over the abdomen" not the answer?

Abdominal distribution is unrelated to the usual neck finding.

Why is "Horizontally around the entire neck" not the answer?

A horizontal circumferential mark is more typical of ligature strangulation.

Why is "Vertically down the chest" not the answer?

A chest mark does not describe a neck ligature in hanging.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Asphyxial deaths in Forensic Medicine. The correct option holds because: Correct: an oblique upward course is typical in 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 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.