Asphyxial deaths: 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 · Asphyxial deaths

Sample item

In a typical case of hanging, the ligature mark is usually:

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Oblique and incomplete, rising towards the knot, above the thyroid cartilage

In hanging the body weight pulls the ligature up behind the ears, so the mark is oblique, high and incomplete. In ligature strangulation the mark is horizontal, complete and lower in the neck.

Option by option

  • A. Oblique and incomplete, rising towards the knot, above the thyroid cartilage (correct)

    Correct.

  • B. Horizontal and complete, above the thyroid cartilage

    A horizontal complete mark suggests strangulation more than hanging.

  • C. Oblique and complete, below the cricoid cartilage

    A complete oblique mark below the cricoid is not typical of either.

  • D. Horizontal and complete, below the cricoid cartilage

    That describes a typical ligature strangulation mark.

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 A, Oblique and incomplete, rising towards the knot, above the thyroid cartilage. In hanging the body weight pulls the ligature up behind the ears, so the mark is oblique, high and incomplete.

Why is "Horizontal and complete, above the thyroid cartilage" not the answer?

A horizontal complete mark suggests strangulation more than hanging.

Why is "Oblique and complete, below the cricoid cartilage" not the answer?

A complete oblique mark below the cricoid is not typical of either.

Why is "Horizontal and complete, below the cricoid cartilage" not the answer?

That describes a typical ligature strangulation mark.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Asphyxial deaths in Forensic Medicine. In ligature strangulation the mark is horizontal, complete and lower in the neck.

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 Asphyxial deaths?

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.