Identification: palatal rugae: 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.

Try it

Forensic Medicine · Identification: palatal rugae

Sample item

A badly burnt body of an edentulous middle-aged man is brought for identification, and an old denture cast is available from his dentist. Which feature, partly protected from heat by the tongue and lips, is stable enough to compare with the cast?

ALip print patternBFingerprint ridges of the thumbCIris patternDPalatal rugae pattern

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Palatal rugae pattern

Palatal rugae are transverse ridges in the anterior hard palate whose pattern is individual and stays stable through life, changing only in length with growth. Being enclosed within the mouth they often survive burns, and they can be compared with denture or dental casts.

Option by option

A. Lip print pattern
Lips are usually destroyed or distorted by burning and are not recorded on a cast.
B. Fingerprint ridges of the thumb
Fingertip skin is usually charred or lost in severe burns and is not captured by a denture cast.
C. Iris pattern
The iris is lost early after death and burning and is not recorded in a denture cast.
D. Palatal rugae pattern (correct)
The rugae lie within the mouth, resist heat and can be matched to a cast of the palate.

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 D, Palatal rugae pattern. Palatal rugae are transverse ridges in the anterior hard palate whose pattern is individual and stays stable through life, changing only in length with growth.

Why is "Lip print pattern" not the answer?

Lips are usually destroyed or distorted by burning and are not recorded on a cast.

Why is "Fingerprint ridges of the thumb" not the answer?

Fingertip skin is usually charred or lost in severe burns and is not captured by a denture cast.

Why is "Iris pattern" not the answer?

The iris is lost early after death and burning and is not recorded in a denture cast.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Identification: palatal rugae in Forensic Medicine. Being enclosed within the mouth they often survive burns, and they can be compared with denture or dental casts.

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: palatal rugae?

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.