MCQ – 80784

Not a feature of postmortem staining –

A.	Occur immediately after death
B.	Common in dependent part
C.	Disappear with putrefaction
D.	Margins are sharp

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Correct Answer � A Explanation

Ans.A. Occur immediately after death 

• Postmortem staining is an early sign (not immediate sign) of death.

• It refers to discoloration of skin and internal organs after death due to accumulation of fluid blood in toneless capillaries and small veins of the dependent part of the body.

• It does not appear elevated above the surface but has sharply defined (usually horizontal) margins.

• It is an early sign of death. It starts at about 1 hour, becomes a series of mottled patches within 1-3 hours and these patches increase in size to coalesce in about 3-6 hours. After 6-12 hours, lividity is fully developed and fixed (unchangeable), i.e. primary lividity. It ends when putrefaction sets in. Fixation of lividity is due to stagnation of blood in distended capillaries and venules (not due to coagulation of blood).