Thanatology: contact pallor: 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: contact pallor

Sample item

A body found supine shows purple discolouration over the back but pale areas over the shoulder blades and buttocks. What explains the pale areas?

AHaemorrhage beneath the skinBAntemortem injury to the skinCEarly putrefactive bleachingDPressure of the body on the surface preventing blood from pooling in those vessels

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Pressure of the body on the surface preventing blood from pooling in those vessels

In hypostasis, blood settles in the dependent parts, but areas pressed against the surface compress the vessels and remain pale, called contact pallor. Tight clothing and ligature marks produce similar pale zones. Contact pallor helps to identify the position of the body at the time lividity formed.

Option by option

A. Haemorrhage beneath the skin
Haemorrhage under the skin would be dark and not pale.
B. Antemortem injury to the skin
Antemortem injury would produce bruising or abrasions, not a pattern matching the body's contact points.
C. Early putrefactive bleaching
Putrefaction produces green discolouration, not pale zones at points of contact.
D. Pressure of the body on the surface preventing blood from pooling in those vessels (correct)
Correct. Compression of vessels keeps blood out of the pressed areas.

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, Pressure of the body on the surface preventing blood from pooling in those vessels. In hypostasis, blood settles in the dependent parts, but areas pressed against the surface compress the vessels and remain pale, called contact pallor.

Why is "Haemorrhage beneath the skin" not the answer?

Haemorrhage under the skin would be dark and not pale.

Why is "Antemortem injury to the skin" not the answer?

Antemortem injury would produce bruising or abrasions, not a pattern matching the body's contact points.

Why is "Early putrefactive bleaching" not the answer?

Putrefaction produces green discolouration, not pale zones at points of contact.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thanatology: contact pallor in Forensic Medicine. Tight clothing and ligature marks produce similar pale zones. Contact pallor helps to identify the position of the body at the time lividity formed.

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: contact pallor?

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.