Thanatology: 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 · Thanatology

Sample item

Which change confirms that postmortem lividity has become fixed?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. It does not blanch on finger pressure

Fixed lividity no longer blanches because blood has settled and haemolysis has begun, so it can help reconstruct body position after death.

Option by option

  • A. It causes active bleeding

    Postmortem staining is not active circulation.

  • B. It appears only in the face

    Lividity forms in dependent areas, not only face.

  • C. It disappears after rigor mortis

    Rigor and lividity develop independently.

  • D. It does not blanch on finger pressure (correct)

    Correct: non-blanching supports fixation of livor 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.

More Forensic Medicine questions

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is D, It does not blanch on finger pressure. Fixed lividity no longer blanches because blood has settled and haemolysis has begun, so it can help reconstruct body position after death.

Why is "It causes active bleeding" not the answer?

Postmortem staining is not active circulation.

Why is "It appears only in the face" not the answer?

Lividity forms in dependent areas, not only face.

Why is "It disappears after rigor mortis" not the answer?

Rigor and lividity develop independently.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thanatology in Forensic Medicine. The correct option holds because: Correct: non-blanching supports fixation of livor mortis.

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 Thanatology?

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.