Thanatology: 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 · Thanatology

Sample item

Cadaveric spasm differs from rigor mortis because it:

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Occurs instantly at the moment of death and may involve a single group of muscles

Cadaveric spasm (instantaneous rigor) occurs at the moment of death in a muscle group that was in intense activity, for example a hand gripping a weapon in drowning or suicide. It signals the position at the time of death and is medico-legally valuable.

Option by option

  • A. Occurs instantly at the moment of death and may involve a single group of muscles (correct)

    Correct. It is instantaneous and localised, preserving the last act.

  • B. Appears 2 to 4 hours after death in all muscles

    That describes ordinary rigor mortis.

  • C. Passes off after 12 hours in all cases

    Rigor mortis, not cadaveric spasm, passes off in a regular sequence.

  • D. Is caused by post-mortem decomposition

    Spasm is not caused by decomposition.

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 A, Occurs instantly at the moment of death and may involve a single group of muscles. Cadaveric spasm (instantaneous rigor) occurs at the moment of death in a muscle group that was in intense activity, for example a hand gripping a weapon in drowning or suicide.

Why is "Appears 2 to 4 hours after death in all muscles" not the answer?

That describes ordinary rigor mortis.

Why is "Passes off after 12 hours in all cases" not the answer?

Rigor mortis, not cadaveric spasm, passes off in a regular sequence.

Why is "Is caused by post-mortem decomposition" not the answer?

Spasm is not caused by decomposition.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thanatology in Forensic Medicine. It signals the position at the time of death and is medico-legally valuable.

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 Thanatology?

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.