Wound interpretation: 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 · Wound interpretation

Sample item

What does a defensive injury commonly indicate?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Victim attempted to ward off an assault

Defensive injuries on hands or forearms may arise when a conscious person raises limbs to protect the head or body during an assault.

Option by option

  • A. Victim attempted to ward off an assault (correct)

    Correct: location and pattern can suggest attempted defence.

  • B. Injury occurred only after death

    Postmortem injury does not create active defence pattern.

  • C. A natural disease caused trauma

    Natural disease does not explain traumatic defence marks.

  • D. Death was necessarily accidental

    Defence injuries do not establish manner of death alone.

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 A, Victim attempted to ward off an assault. Defensive injuries on hands or forearms may arise when a conscious person raises limbs to protect the head or body during an assault.

Why is "Injury occurred only after death" not the answer?

Postmortem injury does not create active defence pattern.

Why is "A natural disease caused trauma" not the answer?

Natural disease does not explain traumatic defence marks.

Why is "Death was necessarily accidental" not the answer?

Defence injuries do not establish manner of death alone.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Wound interpretation in Forensic Medicine. The correct option holds because: Correct: location and pattern can suggest attempted defence.

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 Wound interpretation?

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.