Injuries: contrecoup contusion: 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: contrecoup contusion

Sample item

Which of the following circumstances is most likely to produce contrecoup contusions of the frontal and temporal poles?

AA penetrating knife wound of the parietal regionBA hammer blow to the stationary head over the frontal boneCA bullet passing through the skull from temple to templeDA fall backwards in which the moving head strikes the ground on the occiput

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. A fall backwards in which the moving head strikes the ground on the occiput

A contrecoup injury lies on the side opposite the impact. It is typical when a moving head is suddenly stopped, as in a fall, because the brain continues to move and strikes the opposite rough bony surfaces such as the frontal and temporal poles. A stationary head struck by a moving object more often shows coup injury at the site of impact.

Option by option

A. A penetrating knife wound of the parietal region
A penetrating stab causes local damage along the track, not distant opposite-pole contusion.
B. A hammer blow to the stationary head over the frontal bone
A blow to a fixed head causes coup injury beneath the site, with little contrecoup effect.
C. A bullet passing through the skull from temple to temple
Missile injury damages tissue along its track and is not a contrecoup mechanism.
D. A fall backwards in which the moving head strikes the ground on the occiput (correct)
Correct. Deceleration of a moving head in a fall produces opposite-pole contusions.

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, A fall backwards in which the moving head strikes the ground on the occiput. A contrecoup injury lies on the side opposite the impact.

Why is "A penetrating knife wound of the parietal region" not the answer?

A penetrating stab causes local damage along the track, not distant opposite-pole contusion.

Why is "A hammer blow to the stationary head over the frontal bone" not the answer?

A blow to a fixed head causes coup injury beneath the site, with little contrecoup effect.

Why is "A bullet passing through the skull from temple to temple" not the answer?

Missile injury damages tissue along its track and is not a contrecoup mechanism.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Injuries: contrecoup contusion in Forensic Medicine. It is typical when a moving head is suddenly stopped, as in a fall, because the brain continues to move and strikes the opposite rough bony surfaces such as the frontal and temporal poles. A stationary head struck by a moving object more often shows coup injury at the site of impact.

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 Injuries: contrecoup contusion?

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.