Injuries: Langer lines and gaping: 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: Langer lines and gaping

Sample item

Two incised wounds of equal length and depth are made by the same knife, one running along and one running across the cleavage (Langer) lines of the skin. Which statement is correct?

ANeither wound gapes, since gaping occurs only in lacerationsBThe wound across the lines gapes more, as the cut elastic and collagen fibres retractCBoth wounds gape equally, since gaping depends only on the weaponDThe wound along the lines gapes more than the one across them

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. The wound across the lines gapes more, as the cut elastic and collagen fibres retract

Langer lines follow the direction of the dermal collagen and elastic fibres. A wound that cuts across these fibres divides many of them and the edges retract widely, so it gapes, while a wound parallel to the lines gapes little. The direction of gaping is therefore important in describing wounds, and stab wounds are best interpreted with this in mind.

Option by option

A. Neither wound gapes, since gaping occurs only in lacerations
Incised wounds gape according to the tension of the skin and its fibres, and gaping is not limited to lacerations.
B. The wound across the lines gapes more, as the cut elastic and collagen fibres retract (correct)
Correct. Cutting across the fibres makes the edges retract and the wound gape.
C. Both wounds gape equally, since gaping depends only on the weapon
Weapon type matters, but the orientation to the skin fibres strongly affects gaping.
D. The wound along the lines gapes more than the one across them
A wound parallel to the lines cuts few fibres and gapes less.

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, The wound across the lines gapes more, as the cut elastic and collagen fibres retract. Langer lines follow the direction of the dermal collagen and elastic fibres.

Why is "Neither wound gapes, since gaping occurs only in lacerations" not the answer?

Incised wounds gape according to the tension of the skin and its fibres, and gaping is not limited to lacerations.

Why is "Both wounds gape equally, since gaping depends only on the weapon" not the answer?

Weapon type matters, but the orientation to the skin fibres strongly affects gaping.

Why is "The wound along the lines gapes more than the one across them" not the answer?

A wound parallel to the lines cuts few fibres and gapes less.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Injuries: Langer lines and gaping in Forensic Medicine. A wound that cuts across these fibres divides many of them and the edges retract widely, so it gapes, while a wound parallel to the lines gapes little. The direction of gaping is therefore important in describing wounds, and stab wounds are best interpreted with this in mind.

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: Langer lines and gaping?

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.