Injury: Medico-Legal Perspective

Injury: Medico-Legal Perspective Quiz Crafted by-  

Dr. Neeharika Srivastava

Assistant Professor

Department of Forensic Science,

School of Basic & Applied Sciences,

G.D. Goenka University, Sohna, Gurgaon, Haryana

Here is the List of Questions with Answers along with explanation

Que 1- Stab wounds are characterised by

(1) Length                                  

(2) Breadth

(3) Depth

(4) Entry and exit wound

Answer: (3) Depth

Explanation:  Stab wound is greater in Depth than the width and length of the external injury. The depth is usually equal to or less than the length of the sharp object that was used in producing it, but on yielding surfaces like the anterior wall, the depth of the wound may be greater, because the force of thrust may press the tissues underneath.

Que 2- The diameter of the entry hole together with the abrasion collar may give the

(1) Approximate diameter of the bullet

(2) Approximate length of the firearm

(3) Idea of firearm used

(4) All of them

Answer: (1) Approximate diameter of the bullet

Explanation: During the bullet’s attempt at perforating the skin while entering due to spin , the edge of the entrance wound may be abraded in the form of a collar, called abrasion collar or areola. In some cases there is contusion instead of abrasion, in which it is called as contusion collar. The diameter of the entry hole together with the abrasion collar may give the approximate diameter of the bullet.

Que 3- Which wound resembles incised wound

(1) Graze abrasion

(2) Split laceration

(3) Avulsion

(4) Pressure injuries

Answer: (2) Split laceration

Explanation:  Split laceration occurs when the skin gets crushed between two hard objects. Scalp laceration occurs due to the tissues being crushed between skull and some hard object like a blunt weapon or the hard ground. Tissue bridging are present in such injury but with no undermining of the splits

Que 4- X ray examination in case of firearm injury is to

(1) Ascertain metallic fragments

(2) Trace bullet’s pathway

(3) Determine range of firing

(4) Locate the bullet which is not exited

Answer: (4) Locate the bullet which is not exited

Explanation:  The CT-scan is very useful in the initial care of stable patients with gunshot wounds as regards the haemodynamics and helps objectify the path of the bullet and obtain a precise assessment of the damage. Conventional x-rays are unavoidable for wounds to the legs and spine.

Que 5- The burn which includes skin and sub cutaneous tissue is burn of

(1) I degree                                          

(2) II degree

(3) III degree

(4) IV degree

Answer: (3)  III degree

Explanation:  Third-degree burns destroy the epidermis and dermis. They may go into the innermost layer of skin, the subcutaneous tissue.The burn site looks red, blistered, and may be swollen and painful.

Que 6- Undertaker’s fracture over occipital region occurs at

(1) L3-L5

(2) T3-T5

(3) C3-C5

(4) C6-C7

Answer: (4) C6-C7

Explanation: Undertaker's fracture is an artifact related to poor handling of the corpse characterized by subluxation of the lower cervical spine from tearing of the intervertebral disc at C6-C7 vertebral level. It occurs due to sudden fall of the head over occipital region.

Que 7- Hesitation cuts are suggestive of ……… injury

(1) Homicidal

(2) Accidental

(3) Suicidal

(4) Fabricated

Answer: (3) Suicidal

Explanation:  Hesitation marks or tentative injuries are defined as superficial/shallow stabs or cuts. They often result when the suicidal patients attempt to incise their skin. These injuries are frequently adjacent to, in continuation of, or overlying the fatally incised wound.

Que 8- Bestiality is sexual intercourse between

(1) A person and lower animals

(2) Voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not their

spouse

(3) Homosexual women

(4) Homosexual men

Answer: (1) A person and lower animals

Explanation:  Bestiality is cross-species sexual activity between humans and non-human animals. The terms are often used interchangeably, but some researchers make a distinction between the attraction (zoophilia) and the act (bestiality).Stephanie LaFarge, writes that two groups can be distinguished: bestialists, who rape or abuse animals, and zoophiles, who form an emotional and sexual attachment to animals. Colin J. Williams and Martin Weinberg studied self-defined zoophiles via the internet and reported them as understanding the term zoophilia to involve concern for the animal's welfare, pleasure, and consent, as distinct from the self-labelled zoophiles' concept of "bestialists", whom the zoophiles in their study defined as focused on their own gratification. Williams and Weinberg also quoted a British newspaper saying that zoophilia is a term used by "apologists" for bestiality.

Que 9- Electrocution injury is by

(1) Exogenous burn

(2) Endogenous burn

(3) Electric current

(4) Flame

Answer: (3) Electric current

Explanation: Electrocution injury is an injury which is caused by electric current. Electric current is a physiological reaction caused by electric current passing through the body. The injury depends on the density of the current, tissue resistance and duration of contact. Very small currents may be imperceptible or produce a light tingling sensation.

Que 10- Blackening is best demonstrated by

(1) Transmitted light

(2) Infrared photography

(3) Ultra violet light

(4) Lumiol’s spray

Answer: (2)  Infrared photography

Explanation: Infrared photography, the film or the image sensor used in sensitive to infrared light. The part of the spectrum used is referred to as near infrared to distinguish it from far infrared which is the domain of the thermal imaging and can demonstrate the blackening

Que 11- Blue colour of bruise is due to

(1) Hematoidin

(2) Bilirubin

(3) Hemosiderin

(4) Deoxyhaemoglobin

Answer: (4) Deoxyhaemoglobin

Explanation: Within a day or so of impact, the bruise will darken to blue or purple. This is caused by both low oxygen supplies and swelling at the bruising site. As a result the haemoglobin which is typically red begins to change gradually into blue. The form of the haemoglobin without oxygen, the predominant protein in red blood cells is called as deoxyhemoglobin

Que 12- Which of the following statements are true about incised wounds?

(1) Length is its greater than depth

(2) Depth is its greater than length

(3) length and depth are not significant in case of incised wounds

(4) length and depth both have equal impact on incised wounds

Answer: (1) Length is its greater than depth

Explanation: Incised wound is produced by a sharp edge and is usually longer than it is deep. Because of the sharp force mechanism of injury, incised wounds lack tissue bridging and often display very clean, sharp wound edges.

Que 13- Antemortem burn differs from post mortem burn by

(1) Presence of hemoglobin

(2) Lack of respiratory system

(3) Presence of carboxyhemoglobin

(4) Presence of oxyhemoglobin

Answer: (3) Presence of carboxyhemoglobin

Explanation: The differentiation between antemortem and postmortem burn is dependent upon the presence of the vital reaction or the presence of the carboxyhemoglobin as to be seen by histological examination. In the recent study effort were made to differentiate antemortem and postmortem burns by histopathology of burnt and junctional skin.

Que 14- Type of laceration in which there is separation of the skin from the underlying tissue

(1) Avulsion

(2) Stretch laceration

(3) Split laceration

(4) Cut laceration

Answer: (1) Avulsion

Explanation: Avulsion is an injury in which a body structure is torn off by either trauma or surgery. Avulsions are basically chunks of the tissue removed from the body including at least all the three layers of the skin. They are much more than simple lacerations but less than full amputations.

Que 15- The appearance of branching tree on the chest and shoulders in humans reflects

(1) A natural lightening

(2) In every thermal injury

(3) When beaten up by chain

(4) Due to accumulation of blood after falling from a building

Answer: (1) A natural lightening

Explanation: The appearance of the branching tree on the chest and shoulders of the human reflects the natural lightening. These are called as Arborescent marking. They develop as a type of burn injury. These are also called as filigree burns, feathering or lichtenburg figures.

Que 16- Bevelled cuts are

(1) Homicidal

(2) Accidental

(3) Suicidal

(4) Fabricated

Answer: (1) Homicidal

Explanation: If the blade of the weapon enter obliquely , the wound will have a bevelled margin on one side with undermining on the other side indicating the direction from which the blade entered. Bevelling can be produced by sharp weapon only. It is usually homicidal and indicates the relative position of assailant and victim

Que 17- These injuries are produced by rubbing against a rough surface of an object or ground

(1) Scratches

(2) Split

(3) Grazes

(4) Avulsion

Answer: (3) Grazes

Explanation: An abrasion is a type of open wound that is caused by the skin rubbing against a rough surface. It may be called a scrape or graze. When an abrasion is caused by the skin sliding across hard ground it may be called road rash.

Que 18- Close shot entry in case of firearm injury is represented by

(1) burning, blackening, tattooing, cherry red colour of the surrounding tissues

(2) burning, tattooing, cherry red colour of the surrounding tissues

(3) burning, blackening blue colour of the surrounding tissues

(4) burning, blackening, tattooing, blue colour of the surrounding tissues

Answer: (1) burning, blackening, tattooing, cherry red colour of the surrounding tissues

Explanation: The characteristics of close shot entry which is caused by  the firearm injury are tattooing around the wound. Partly burnt or un-burnt flakes or grains of propellant on the surrounding skin. Wound is circular or elliptical, depending upon the angle of fire. Edges are nibbled or irregular due to individual pellets.

Que 19- high level of cyanide in blood is found in

(1) tattooing and blackening by firearm injury

(2) Starvation

(3) Thermal burns

(4) Poisoning

Answer: (3) Thermal burns

Explanation: Elevated levels of Carbon monoxide and cyanide serve as evidence of intra vital burning in fire victims. Hydrogen cyanide is released by combustion of nitrogen containing organic material such as plastics and wool.

Que 20- Pugilistic attitude can be seen in

(1) Drowned individuals

(2) Burning cases

(3) Hanged bodies

(4) Lightning

Answer: (2) Burning cases

Explanation: Pugilistic attitude is seen in burning cases where the posture of the body is boxer like with flexed elbows and knees and clenched fists caused by the shrinkage of body tissues and muscle due to dehydration caused by heating. The pugilistic attitude can be mistaken for a pre-death attempt to shield oneself from an attacker