Injuries: 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 · Injuries

Sample item

A farmer struck by lightning has a fern-like reddish skin pattern across the chest. This is:

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Arborescent (Lichtenberg) marks, a feature of lightning injury

Lightning can produce arborescent, fern-like erythematous marks (Lichtenberg figures) due to vascular changes along the skin. They fade within days. Other features include metallic objects fused or magnetised and clothing torn or burnt.

Option by option

  • A. Arborescent (Lichtenberg) marks, a feature of lightning injury (correct)

    Correct. Fern-like patterns are typical of lightning.

  • B. Spark burn from a high-tension arc

    Spark burns are small crater-like lesions from an arc.

  • C. Joule burn from low-voltage contact

    Joule burns are focal, with a pale halo at the contact points of electricity and no branching pattern.

  • D. Blast burn from a firearm

    Blast burns from firearms show powder tattooing and not fern patterns.

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, Arborescent (Lichtenberg) marks, a feature of lightning injury. Lightning can produce arborescent, fern-like erythematous marks (Lichtenberg figures) due to vascular changes along the skin.

Why is "Spark burn from a high-tension arc" not the answer?

Spark burns are small crater-like lesions from an arc.

Why is "Joule burn from low-voltage contact" not the answer?

Joule burns are focal, with a pale halo at the contact points of electricity and no branching pattern.

Why is "Blast burn from a firearm" not the answer?

Blast burns from firearms show powder tattooing and not fern patterns.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Injuries in Forensic Medicine. They fade within days. Other features include metallic objects fused or magnetised and clothing torn or burnt.

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 Injuries?

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.