Thermal injury: smoke inhalation: 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 · Thermal injury: smoke inhalation

Sample item

Which autopsy finding supports inhalation of smoke while alive during a fire?

AA fracture of the tibiaBSuperficial charring of skin onlyCSoot in the airways with elevated carboxyhemoglobinDLividity on the back

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Soot in the airways with elevated carboxyhemoglobin

Soot in the airways and carboxyhemoglobin support breathing during a fire. Each finding must be interpreted with circumstances and possible limitations.

Option by option

A. A fracture of the tibia
A tibial fracture is unrelated to smoke inhalation.
B. Superficial charring of skin only
Skin charring can occur after death.
C. Soot in the airways with elevated carboxyhemoglobin (correct)
Correct. Both findings support antemortem smoke exposure.
D. Lividity on the back
Lividity indicates dependent blood pooling after death.

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, Soot in the airways with elevated carboxyhemoglobin. Soot in the airways and carboxyhemoglobin support breathing during a fire.

Why is "A fracture of the tibia" not the answer?

A tibial fracture is unrelated to smoke inhalation.

Why is "Superficial charring of skin only" not the answer?

Skin charring can occur after death.

Why is "Lividity on the back" not the answer?

Lividity indicates dependent blood pooling after death.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thermal injury: smoke inhalation in Forensic Medicine. Each finding must be interpreted with circumstances and possible limitations.

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 Thermal injury: smoke inhalation?

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.