Identification: cephalic index: 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: cephalic index

Sample item

A skull has a maximum breadth of 13.5 cm and a maximum length of 19.0 cm. What is the cephalic index and how is the skull classified?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. About 71, dolichocephalic

Cephalic index equals maximum breadth divided by maximum length times 100, which is 13.5 divided by 19.0 times 100, or about 71. An index below 75 is dolichocephalic (long headed), 75 to 80 mesaticephalic and above 80 brachycephalic.

Option by option

  • A. About 71, dolichocephalic (correct)

    The index is about 71, which is below 75 and therefore dolichocephalic.

  • B. About 71, brachycephalic

    An index of 71 is not above 80, so it is not brachycephalic.

  • C. About 78, mesaticephalic

    A mesaticephalic skull has an index between 75 and 80, which this does not reach.

  • D. About 84, brachycephalic

    The index is not 84, and brachycephalic skulls have an index above 80.

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.

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Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is A, About 71, dolichocephalic. Cephalic index equals maximum breadth divided by maximum length times 100, which is 13.

Why is "About 71, brachycephalic" not the answer?

An index of 71 is not above 80, so it is not brachycephalic.

Why is "About 78, mesaticephalic" not the answer?

A mesaticephalic skull has an index between 75 and 80, which this does not reach.

Why is "About 84, brachycephalic" not the answer?

The index is not 84, and brachycephalic skulls have an index above 80.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Identification: cephalic index in Forensic Medicine. 5 divided by 19.0 times 100, or about 71. An index below 75 is dolichocephalic (long headed), 75 to 80 mesaticephalic and above 80 brachycephalic.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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: cephalic index?

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.