Identification: postmortem change in body length: 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 · Identification: postmortem change in body length

Sample item

A pathologist measures a fresh cadaver lying supine, after rigor has passed off, as 170 cm. How does this compare with the person's living standing height?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Living height was slightly less

After death the loss of muscle tone and of the turgor of the intervertebral discs lengthens the body by a small amount, about 2 to 3 cm, compared with standing height. Rigor mortis can temporarily shorten the body, so the timing of the measurement matters when stature is estimated.

Option by option

  • A. Living height was slightly less (correct)

    Correct. A relaxed cadaver is slightly longer than the person standing.

  • B. Living height was much greater

    The difference is only a few centimetres, not a large one.

  • C. Living height was slightly more

    The living height is not greater, because relaxation lengthens the body.

  • D. Both measurements are identical

    The two measurements differ by a small amount.

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, Living height was slightly less. After death the loss of muscle tone and of the turgor of the intervertebral discs lengthens the body by a small amount, about 2 to 3 cm, compared with standing height.

Why is "Living height was much greater" not the answer?

The difference is only a few centimetres, not a large one.

Why is "Living height was slightly more" not the answer?

The living height is not greater, because relaxation lengthens the body.

Why is "Both measurements are identical" not the answer?

The two measurements differ by a small amount.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Identification: postmortem change in body length in Forensic Medicine. Rigor mortis can temporarily shorten the body, so the timing of the measurement matters when stature is estimated.

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 Identification: postmortem change in body length?

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.