Identification: racial features of hair: 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 · Identification: racial features of hair

Sample item

Hair found at a scene is coarse, straight and black, with a round cross-section and abundant, evenly distributed pigment. Which racial group is it most typical of?

AMongoloidBAustraloidCNegroidDCaucasoid

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Mongoloid

Mongoloid hair is coarse and straight with a circular section. Negroid hair is flat or ribbon-like in section and tightly curled, and Caucasoid hair is oval in section and straight or wavy. Hair features support but do not prove racial origin.

Option by option

A. Mongoloid (correct)
Correct. Straight, coarse, round-sectioned hair is a Mongoloid feature.
B. Australoid
Australoid hair is typically wavy or curly with an oval section.
C. Negroid
Negroid hair has a flat section and is tightly curled.
D. Caucasoid
Caucasoid hair has an oval section and is finer.

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 A, Mongoloid. Mongoloid hair is coarse and straight with a circular section.

Why is "Australoid" not the answer?

Australoid hair is typically wavy or curly with an oval section.

Why is "Negroid" not the answer?

Negroid hair has a flat section and is tightly curled.

Why is "Caucasoid" not the answer?

Caucasoid hair has an oval section and is finer.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Identification: racial features of hair in Forensic Medicine. Negroid hair is flat or ribbon-like in section and tightly curled, and Caucasoid hair is oval in section and straight or wavy. Hair features support but do not prove racial origin.

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: racial features of hair?

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.