Free FMGE Forensic Medicine questions

Explanation

After death, ATP production ceases. Without ATP, actin-myosin cross-bridges remain fixed, producing postmortem muscle stiffening.

Explanation

After circulation stops, blood settles under gravity in dependent parts of the body. This produces purplish discoloration known as postmortem lividity or hypostasis.

Explanation

Incised wounds are produced by sharp-edged objects and usually show clean-cut margins without tissue bridges. Lacerations more often have bruised, irregular edges and bridging tissue.

Explanation

Tissue bridges are strands of vessels, nerves, and connective tissue that remain across a laceration. They are absent in a true clean incised wound.

Explanation

Soot produced by combustion can deposit around an entry wound when the muzzle is sufficiently close. Its presence helps in estimating firing range, though interpretation depends on weapon and ammunition.

Explanation

In hanging, the ligature mark commonly runs obliquely upward toward the suspension point and may be incomplete. Ligature strangulation more often produces a transverse, more completely encircling mark.

Explanation

Ligature strangulation generally produces a more horizontal or transverse mark, often completely encircling the neck. This contrasts with the commonly oblique mark of hanging.

Explanation

Carbon monoxide binds hemoglobin with very high affinity, forming carboxyhemoglobin and reducing oxygen-carrying capacity. It also impairs oxygen unloading from remaining oxyhemoglobin.

Explanation

Organophosphates phosphorylate and inhibit acetylcholinesterase, producing excess acetylcholine at muscarinic, nicotinic, and central synapses.

Explanation

Methanol is metabolized to formaldehyde and then formic acid. Formate accumulation produces metabolic acidosis and characteristic visual toxicity.

Explanation

Cyanide inhibits cytochrome c oxidase in the electron transport chain, preventing oxidative phosphorylation. Tissues are unable to utilize delivered oxygen effectively.

Explanation

Deferoxamine binds ferric iron to form ferrioxamine, which can be excreted. It is used in serious acute iron toxicity and selected chronic iron-overload states.

Explanation

Naloxone is an opioid receptor antagonist that rapidly reverses opioid-induced respiratory and CNS depression. Repeated dosing may be required because its duration can be shorter than that of the opioid involved.

Explanation

N-acetylcysteine restores glutathione availability and enhances detoxification of the reactive paracetamol metabolite NAPQI. Benefit is greatest when therapy is started early.

Explanation

Lead interferes with heme synthesis and ribosomal RNA degradation, producing basophilic stippling of erythrocytes. Abdominal, neurologic, and hematologic manifestations may coexist.

Explanation

Chronic arsenic exposure can cause peripheral neuropathy, hyperkeratosis, pigmentary skin changes, and transverse white nail lines. The manifestations vary with dose and duration.

Explanation

Friction-ridge patterns are highly individual and persist throughout life unless deeply damaged. Fingerprints therefore remain a major forensic identification tool.

Explanation

The pelvis shows marked sexual dimorphism related largely to obstetric adaptation. It is generally more reliable for sex estimation than an isolated long bone.

Explanation

Valid informed consent requires capacity, adequate relevant information, comprehension, and voluntariness. A signature by itself does not make consent valid.

Explanation

Confidentiality is a core professional duty but is not absolute. Limited disclosure may be justified or mandated in defined legal, public-health, or safety circumstances.