Thanatology: post-mortem staining: 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: post-mortem staining

Sample item

A body is found lying face-up in a field. Post-mortem lividity is present on the front of the body and the face, and is fixed. What can be concluded?

ALividity is unrelated to the position after deathBThe person died of carbon monoxide poisoningCThe person died in the supine position and lividity is normalDThe body was lying prone for several hours after death and was later turned supine

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. The body was lying prone for several hours after death and was later turned supine

Post-mortem hypostasis settles in the dependent parts and begins to fix after about 6 to 8 hours as red cells haemolyse and tissues stain. Fixed lividity on the anterior surface in a body found supine shows that it lay prone for a considerable time and was then moved, which has medico-legal importance.

Option by option

A. Lividity is unrelated to the position after death
Lividity depends on the position of the body after death.
B. The person died of carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide produces cherry-red colour but not an anterior distribution in a supine body.
C. The person died in the supine position and lividity is normal
In a supine body, lividity would be on the back.
D. The body was lying prone for several hours after death and was later turned supine (correct)
Correct. Fixed lividity inconsistent with the final position shows the body was moved.

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 D, The body was lying prone for several hours after death and was later turned supine. Post-mortem hypostasis settles in the dependent parts and begins to fix after about 6 to 8 hours as red cells haemolyse and tissues stain.

Why is "Lividity is unrelated to the position after death" not the answer?

Lividity depends on the position of the body after death.

Why is "The person died of carbon monoxide poisoning" not the answer?

Carbon monoxide produces cherry-red colour but not an anterior distribution in a supine body.

Why is "The person died in the supine position and lividity is normal" not the answer?

In a supine body, lividity would be on the back.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thanatology: post-mortem staining in Forensic Medicine. Fixed lividity on the anterior surface in a body found supine shows that it lay prone for a considerable time and was then moved, which has medico-legal importance.

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: post-mortem staining?

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.