Identification: tattoo marks: 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: tattoo marks

Sample item

An exhumed body shows a clear tattoo on the forearm even though the epidermis has slipped off. In which layer is tattoo pigment deposited?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Dermis

Tattoo needles deposit pigment in the dermis, where it is taken up by fibroblasts and macrophages and remains for life. Epidermal cells turn over and shed, so pigment placed in the epidermis alone would fade, whereas dermal pigment survives even skin slippage and decomposition.

Option by option

  • A. Stratum corneum

    The stratum corneum is shed continuously and cannot hold permanent pigment.

  • B. Dermis (correct)

    Pigment lodges permanently in the dermis, which is why tattoos persist.

  • C. Basal layer of the epidermis

    Basal epidermal cells migrate upward and are shed, so pigment there would be lost.

  • D. Subcutaneous fat

    Pigment is not delivered as deep as the subcutaneous fat.

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 B, Dermis. Tattoo needles deposit pigment in the dermis, where it is taken up by fibroblasts and macrophages and remains for life.

Why is "Stratum corneum" not the answer?

The stratum corneum is shed continuously and cannot hold permanent pigment.

Why is "Basal layer of the epidermis" not the answer?

Basal epidermal cells migrate upward and are shed, so pigment there would be lost.

Why is "Subcutaneous fat" not the answer?

Pigment is not delivered as deep as the subcutaneous fat.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Identification: tattoo marks in Forensic Medicine. Epidermal cells turn over and shed, so pigment placed in the epidermis alone would fade, whereas dermal pigment survives even skin slippage and decomposition.

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: tattoo marks?

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.