Injuries: burns: 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: burns

Sample item

A charred body is found in a house fire with the arms and legs flexed and the fists clenched. This 'pugilistic attitude' is explained by:

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Heat coagulation and contraction of muscle proteins, with the stronger flexors overpowering the extensors

Heat denatures and shortens muscle proteins, and the larger flexor muscles overpower the extensors, giving a boxer-like posture. It is a post-mortem artefact of heat, not evidence of life. Fractures from heat can also occur and must be distinguished from antemortem injury.

Option by option

  • A. Rigor mortis caused by the fire

    Rigor mortis is a metabolic stiffening and is not the cause of the heat posture.

  • B. Struggle of the victim before death

    The posture occurs even in bodies burned after death and does not show struggle.

  • C. Burning of the tendons only

    Tendon burning would loosen rather than produce flexion.

  • D. Heat coagulation and contraction of muscle proteins, with the stronger flexors overpowering the extensors (correct)

    Correct. Heat coagulation with dominant flexors causes the posture.

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 D, Heat coagulation and contraction of muscle proteins, with the stronger flexors overpowering the extensors. Heat denatures and shortens muscle proteins, and the larger flexor muscles overpower the extensors, giving a boxer-like posture.

Why is "Rigor mortis caused by the fire" not the answer?

Rigor mortis is a metabolic stiffening and is not the cause of the heat posture.

Why is "Struggle of the victim before death" not the answer?

The posture occurs even in bodies burned after death and does not show struggle.

Why is "Burning of the tendons only" not the answer?

Tendon burning would loosen rather than produce flexion.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Injuries: burns in Forensic Medicine. It is a post-mortem artefact of heat, not evidence of life. Fractures from heat can also occur and must be distinguished from antemortem injury.

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: burns?

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.