Thanatology: livid area versus bruise: 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: livid area versus bruise

Sample item

A forensic pathologist finds a purple area on the back of a body lying supine and must decide whether it is hypostasis or a bruise. Which finding on incising the area indicates that it is post-mortem lividity?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Blood confined within dilated vessels, which wash away easily with no tissue staining

In hypostasis the blood has settled by gravity within vessels, so on incision it runs from cut vessels and washes away, leaving clean tissue. A bruise has extravasated, clotted blood infiltrating tissue that cannot be washed off. Swelling and inflammatory reaction are further signs of an ante-mortem injury.

Option by option

  • A. Swelling of the area with an inflammatory reaction

    Swelling and a reaction are signs of injury in life, not of hypostasis.

  • B. Blood confined within dilated vessels, which wash away easily with no tissue staining (correct)

    Correct. Blood stays in the vessels, so the area washes clean on incision.

  • C. Blood clotted and infiltrated into the surrounding tissue

    Clotted, infiltrated blood in tissue indicates a bruise.

  • D. Staining that persists after washing, with a raised margin

    Persistent staining with a raised edge points to an ante-mortem bruise.

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 B, Blood confined within dilated vessels, which wash away easily with no tissue staining. In hypostasis the blood has settled by gravity within vessels, so on incision it runs from cut vessels and washes away, leaving clean tissue.

Why is "Swelling of the area with an inflammatory reaction" not the answer?

Swelling and a reaction are signs of injury in life, not of hypostasis.

Why is "Blood clotted and infiltrated into the surrounding tissue" not the answer?

Clotted, infiltrated blood in tissue indicates a bruise.

Why is "Staining that persists after washing, with a raised margin" not the answer?

Persistent staining with a raised edge points to an ante-mortem bruise.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thanatology: livid area versus bruise in Forensic Medicine. A bruise has extravasated, clotted blood infiltrating tissue that cannot be washed off. Swelling and inflammatory reaction are further signs of an ante-mortem injury.

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 Thanatology: livid area versus bruise?

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.