Thanatology: cold stiffening: 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: cold stiffening

Sample item

A mountaineer's body is recovered from a glacier crevasse and all joints feel rigid. Which feature best suggests cold stiffening rather than rigor mortis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Freezing of fat and tissue fluid, which softens on thawing

In cold stiffening, solidification of subcutaneous fat, muscle fat and tissue fluid makes the body hard. The rigidity disappears when the body is warmed and thaws, after which true rigor or putrefaction may follow. In true rigor the stiffness arises from muscle biochemistry and passes off through decomposition.

Option by option

  • A. The stiffness results from ATP depletion and is restricted to voluntary muscle

    ATP depletion is the mechanism of rigor mortis, not of freezing.

  • B. The stiffness follows the craniocaudal order and passes off with putrefaction

    This describes true rigor mortis, with its typical order and passing off through putrefaction.

  • C. Freezing of fat and tissue fluid, which softens on thawing (correct)

    Correct. Freezing of fat and fluid causes the stiffness, and thawing removes it.

  • D. The stiffness is limited to the jaw and eyelids

    Restriction to the jaw and eyelids describes only the earliest stage of rigor mortis.

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 C, Freezing of fat and tissue fluid, which softens on thawing. In cold stiffening, solidification of subcutaneous fat, muscle fat and tissue fluid makes the body hard.

Why is "The stiffness results from ATP depletion and is restricted to volunta…" not the answer?

ATP depletion is the mechanism of rigor mortis, not of freezing.

Why is "The stiffness follows the craniocaudal order and passes off with putr…" not the answer?

This describes true rigor mortis, with its typical order and passing off through putrefaction.

Why is "The stiffness is limited to the jaw and eyelids" not the answer?

Restriction to the jaw and eyelids describes only the earliest stage of rigor mortis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thanatology: cold stiffening in Forensic Medicine. The rigidity disappears when the body is warmed and thaws, after which true rigor or putrefaction may follow. In true rigor the stiffness arises from muscle biochemistry and passes off through decomposition.

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: cold stiffening?

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.