Asphyxia: Gettler's test: 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 · Asphyxia: Gettler's test

Sample item

At autopsy of a body from a lake, the chloride content of blood from the left side of the heart is markedly lower than from the right side. According to Gettler's test, this suggests:

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Drowning in freshwater

Freshwater passes through the lungs into the left heart and dilutes it, so left heart chloride falls below the right. In seawater drowning the left heart chloride is higher than the right. The test is of limited reliability and is not used alone.

Option by option

  • A. Death before entering water

    Death before entry would not produce a difference between the two sides.

  • B. Death from hanging

    Hanging is not associated with such a difference in cardiac blood chloride.

  • C. Drowning in seawater

    In seawater the left heart chloride rises above the right.

  • D. Drowning in freshwater (correct)

    Correct. Dilution of left heart blood lowers its chloride in freshwater drowning.

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 D, Drowning in freshwater. Freshwater passes through the lungs into the left heart and dilutes it, so left heart chloride falls below the right.

Why is "Death before entering water" not the answer?

Death before entry would not produce a difference between the two sides.

Why is "Death from hanging" not the answer?

Hanging is not associated with such a difference in cardiac blood chloride.

Why is "Drowning in seawater" not the answer?

In seawater the left heart chloride rises above the right.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Asphyxia: Gettler's test in Forensic Medicine. In seawater drowning the left heart chloride is higher than the right. The test is of limited reliability and is not used alone.

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 Asphyxia: Gettler's test?

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.