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

A woman is found dead with fingernail marks over the neck, petechiae on the face and conjunctivae, and a fractured greater horn of the hyoid bone. What type of death is most likely?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Manual strangulation (throttling)

Manual strangulation produces fingertip bruises and nail abrasions on the neck, marked facial congestion with petechiae, and frequently fracture of the hyoid and thyroid cartilage horns, especially in adults. The cause is usually homicidal.

Option by option

  • A. Traumatic asphyxia

    Traumatic asphyxia follows chest compression with a congested head and neck and no neck injuries.

  • B. Smothering with a pillow

    Smothering gives injuries at the mouth and nose and not the neck.

  • C. Manual strangulation (throttling) (correct)

    Correct. Local neck injuries with hyoid fracture indicate throttling.

  • D. Judicial hanging

    Judicial hanging gives a high ligature mark and a cervical fracture-dislocation.

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 C, Manual strangulation (throttling). Manual strangulation produces fingertip bruises and nail abrasions on the neck, marked facial congestion with petechiae, and frequently fracture of the hyoid and thyroid cartilage horns, especially in adults.

Why is "Traumatic asphyxia" not the answer?

Traumatic asphyxia follows chest compression with a congested head and neck and no neck injuries.

Why is "Smothering with a pillow" not the answer?

Smothering gives injuries at the mouth and nose and not the neck.

Why is "Judicial hanging" not the answer?

Judicial hanging gives a high ligature mark and a cervical fracture-dislocation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Asphyxial deaths in Forensic Medicine. The cause is usually homicidal.

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.