Thanatology: factors affecting rigor: 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: factors affecting rigor

Sample item

Two bodies are examined in the same hour after death. Which body would be expected to show delayed onset and prolonged duration of rigor mortis?

AOne that was a wasted, malnourished adult in a hot climateBOne that died in a cold environmentCOne that died of severe septicaemia with high feverDOne that died after violent exertion in a hot room

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. One that died in a cold environment

Cold slows the chemical changes in muscle, so rigor appears later and lasts longer. Heat, preceding exertion, fever and poor muscle glycogen reserves hasten the onset and shorten the duration. This is why rigor must be interpreted with environmental conditions.

Option by option

A. One that was a wasted, malnourished adult in a hot climate
Poor muscle reserves and heat both cause rapid onset and early disappearance of rigor.
B. One that died in a cold environment (correct)
Correct. Low temperature slows ATP breakdown and putrefaction, so rigor is delayed and persists.
C. One that died of severe septicaemia with high fever
Fever and sepsis hasten rigor and also hasten its passing off.
D. One that died after violent exertion in a hot room
Exertion and heat deplete ATP and speed up onset and loss of rigor.

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 B, One that died in a cold environment. Cold slows the chemical changes in muscle, so rigor appears later and lasts longer.

Why is "One that was a wasted, malnourished adult in a hot climate" not the answer?

Poor muscle reserves and heat both cause rapid onset and early disappearance of rigor.

Why is "One that died of severe septicaemia with high fever" not the answer?

Fever and sepsis hasten rigor and also hasten its passing off.

Why is "One that died after violent exertion in a hot room" not the answer?

Exertion and heat deplete ATP and speed up onset and loss of rigor.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thanatology: factors affecting rigor in Forensic Medicine. Heat, preceding exertion, fever and poor muscle glycogen reserves hasten the onset and shorten the duration. This is why rigor must be interpreted with environmental conditions.

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: factors affecting rigor?

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.