ABMDI - American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators Postmortem Changes and Injuries Questions and Answers

Question 1

An investigator arrives at a scene where the decedent is found lying supine on the floor.
The investigator notes distinct reddish-purple discoloration on the decedent's back and posterior legs, but the buttocks and shoulder blades appear pale.
This phenomenon is known as:

Accepted Answer

Livor mortis with contact pallor

Answer

Rigor mortis with pressure points

Answer

Tardieu spots from asphyxia

Answer

Postmortem decomposition

Question 2

Which of the following factors would most likely accelerate the onset and progression of rigor mortis?

Accepted Answer

Death occurring after strenuous physical activity

Answer

Low ambient temperature

Answer

Advanced age of the decedent

Answer

Obesity of the decedent

Question 3

At a death scene, you observe small, pinpoint hemorrhages (petechiae) and larger purpuric hemorrhages clustered in the dependent areas of lividity on the decedent's lower legs. These findings are most consistent with:

Accepted Answer

Tardieu spots

Answer

Insect activity

Answer

Adipocere formation

Answer

Marbling

Question 4

An investigator is attempting to estimate the postmortem interval using algor mortis. Which of the following environmental conditions would have the most significant impact on the rate of body cooling?

Accepted Answer

The body being submerged in cold, moving water

Answer

The body being clothed in a light cotton shirt

Answer

The decedent having a low-grade fever at the time of death

Answer

The body lying on a carpeted floor

Question 5

A key difference between an antemortem (before death) wound and a postmortem (after death) artifact is the presence of a vital reaction. Which of the following is a characteristic of an antemortem injury?

Accepted Answer

Profuse bleeding with firm, adherent clots

Answer

Minimal oozing of blood with no tissue infiltration

Answer

Dry, pale wound margins

Answer

Absence of swelling or inflammation

Question 6

An investigator is called to a scene where a body has been discovered. The investigator notes that livor mortis is present and fully fixed, and rigor mortis is complete throughout the entire body. Based on these classic postmortem changes, the most likely postmortem interval is:

Accepted Answer

12-24 hours

Answer

1-2 hours

Answer

4-6 hours

Answer

Greater than 48 hours

An investigator arrives at a scene where the decedent is found lying supine on the floor.The investigator notes distinct reddish-purple discoloration on the decedent's back and posterior legs, but the buttocks and shoulder blades appear pale.This phenomenon is known as:

An investigator arrives at a scene where the decedent is found lying supine on the floor.
The investigator notes distinct reddish-purple discoloration on the decedent's back and posterior legs, but the buttocks and shoulder blades appear pale.
This phenomenon is known as: