Injuries: patterned abrasion: 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 · Injuries: patterned abrasion

Sample item

A pedestrian run over by a truck has a faint brown, parchment-like area on the abdomen that reproduces a repeating pattern of parallel grooves and ridges. Which type of injury is this, and what does it show?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. An imprint (patterned) abrasion, reproducing the tread of the offending tyre

An imprint or patterned abrasion is produced when an object with a distinctive surface is pressed or impacted on the skin and the epidermis is crushed into the pattern of that surface. Tyre treads, belt buckles, whip marks and ligature weaves are classical examples. Such patterns help to link a weapon or vehicle with the injury.

Option by option

  • A. A scratch abrasion, made by a pointed object dragged over the skin

    A scratch abrasion is a linear injury from a sharp point, not a repeating pattern of grooves.

  • B. An imprint (patterned) abrasion, reproducing the tread of the offending tyre (correct)

    Correct. The repeating tread pattern is stamped on the skin by pressure from the tyre.

  • C. A sliding abrasion, showing the direction in which the vehicle moved

    A sliding abrasion is a graze formed by lateral movement and does not copy a regular surface pattern.

  • D. A friction burn, made by rapid sliding contact with the road surface

    A friction burn is a smeared sliding injury and does not reproduce the tread of an object.

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 B, An imprint (patterned) abrasion, reproducing the tread of the offending tyre. An imprint or patterned abrasion is produced when an object with a distinctive surface is pressed or impacted on the skin and the epidermis is crushed into the pattern of that surface.

Why is "A scratch abrasion, made by a pointed object dragged over the skin" not the answer?

A scratch abrasion is a linear injury from a sharp point, not a repeating pattern of grooves.

Why is "A sliding abrasion, showing the direction in which the vehicle moved" not the answer?

A sliding abrasion is a graze formed by lateral movement and does not copy a regular surface pattern.

Why is "A friction burn, made by rapid sliding contact with the road surface" not the answer?

A friction burn is a smeared sliding injury and does not reproduce the tread of an object.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Injuries: patterned abrasion in Forensic Medicine. Tyre treads, belt buckles, whip marks and ligature weaves are classical examples. Such patterns help to link a weapon or vehicle with the injury.

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 Injuries: patterned abrasion?

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.