Toxicology: Widmark factor: 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 · Toxicology: Widmark factor

Sample item

In Widmark's method of estimating blood alcohol from the amount consumed, the distribution factor (r) is lower in women than in men. What is the reason?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Women have a lower proportion of body water for the same weight

Alcohol is distributed in body water, and women have a higher proportion of fat and a lower proportion of water than men of the same weight. The same dose is therefore diluted less and gives a higher blood concentration. Lower gastric alcohol dehydrogenase also contributes, but the factor reflects body composition.

Option by option

  • A. Women excrete more alcohol unchanged by the kidneys

    Little alcohol is excreted unchanged, and this does not differ much by sex.

  • B. Women absorb alcohol from the stomach more slowly

    Slower absorption would lower, not raise, the peak concentration.

  • C. Women have more hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase

    Hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase activity does not explain the lower distribution factor.

  • D. Women have a lower proportion of body water for the same weight (correct)

    Correct. Less body water means less dilution and a higher blood level.

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 D, Women have a lower proportion of body water for the same weight. Alcohol is distributed in body water, and women have a higher proportion of fat and a lower proportion of water than men of the same weight.

Why is "Women excrete more alcohol unchanged by the kidneys" not the answer?

Little alcohol is excreted unchanged, and this does not differ much by sex.

Why is "Women absorb alcohol from the stomach more slowly" not the answer?

Slower absorption would lower, not raise, the peak concentration.

Why is "Women have more hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase" not the answer?

Hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase activity does not explain the lower distribution factor.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Toxicology: Widmark factor in Forensic Medicine. The same dose is therefore diluted less and gives a higher blood concentration. Lower gastric alcohol dehydrogenase also contributes, but the factor reflects body composition.

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 Toxicology: Widmark factor?

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.