Thanatology: marbling in putrefaction: 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: marbling in putrefaction

Sample item

A body shows branching greenish-black lines over the shoulders and abdomen about two days after death in a warm climate. What is the cause of this marbling?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Haemolysis with hydrogen sulphide forming sulphmethaemoglobin in superficial veins

Bacteria produce hydrogen sulphide, which combines with haemoglobin released by haemolysis to form sulphmethaemoglobin, staining the walls of superficial veins green-black. The result is the branching vein pattern called marbling, common on the shoulders, chest and thighs. Blistering and gas formation are separate later changes.

Option by option

  • A. Haemolysis with hydrogen sulphide forming sulphmethaemoglobin in superficial veins (correct)

    Correct. Sulphmethaemoglobin gives the vein tracks their dark green colour.

  • B. Sloughing of epidermis with exposure of dermis

    Epidermal sloughing produces skin slippage and blisters, not a branching vein pattern.

  • C. Deposition of bilirubin in the skin

    Bilirubin stains tissue yellow and does not produce a venous pattern.

  • D. Gas distension of subcutaneous tissue

    Gas bloating causes swelling of the body and does not by itself colour the veins.

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 A, Haemolysis with hydrogen sulphide forming sulphmethaemoglobin in superficial veins. Bacteria produce hydrogen sulphide, which combines with haemoglobin released by haemolysis to form sulphmethaemoglobin, staining the walls of superficial veins green-black.

Why is "Sloughing of epidermis with exposure of dermis" not the answer?

Epidermal sloughing produces skin slippage and blisters, not a branching vein pattern.

Why is "Deposition of bilirubin in the skin" not the answer?

Bilirubin stains tissue yellow and does not produce a venous pattern.

Why is "Gas distension of subcutaneous tissue" not the answer?

Gas bloating causes swelling of the body and does not by itself colour the veins.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thanatology: marbling in putrefaction in Forensic Medicine. The result is the branching vein pattern called marbling, common on the shoulders, chest and thighs. Blistering and gas formation are separate later changes.

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: marbling in putrefaction?

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.