Identification: ossification at birth: 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 · Identification: ossification at birth

Sample item

A newborn is found dead and the pathologist wants osseous evidence of full-term maturity. Which ossification centre is normally present at birth?

AHead of the humerusBLower end of the femurCLower end of the radiusDHead of the femur

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Lower end of the femur

The centre for the lower end of the femur appears in about the ninth month of intrauterine life, so its presence indicates a full-term or near-term foetus. The centres for the humeral head, femoral head and lower radius appear after birth, in the first year.

Option by option

A. Head of the humerus
The humeral head centre appears after birth, in the first year.
B. Lower end of the femur (correct)
The lower femoral epiphysis is present at term and is the classical sign of maturity.
C. Lower end of the radius
The lower radial centre appears in the first or second year of life.
D. Head of the femur
The femoral head centre appears in the first year after birth.

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, Lower end of the femur. The centre for the lower end of the femur appears in about the ninth month of intrauterine life, so its presence indicates a full-term or near-term foetus.

Why is "Head of the humerus" not the answer?

The humeral head centre appears after birth, in the first year.

Why is "Lower end of the radius" not the answer?

The lower radial centre appears in the first or second year of life.

Why is "Head of the femur" not the answer?

The femoral head centre appears in the first year after birth.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Identification: ossification at birth in Forensic Medicine. The centres for the humeral head, femoral head and lower radius appear after birth, in the first year.

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 Identification: ossification at birth?

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.