Hanging- Types, Causes of Death, Postmortem Findings and Medicolegal Importance

C i.e. Staining of saliva

B i.e. Carotid artery

Reddy’s Essentials of forensic medicine & toxicology 23/e P-287 – Injury to trachea is unusual & intima of carotid artery show transverse splits with extravasation of blood.

Parikh 6/e P-3.40 – Jugular veins are occluded by 2 kg tension, carotids by 3.5 kg, trachea by 15 kg, vertebral arteries by 16.6 kg. So amount & chances of injury is also in same order

A i.e. Partial hanging

A i.e. Suspension of body, body weight acting as constricting force

A i.e. Typical Hanging

B i.e. Side of the neck

Ans. B i.e. Judicial hangin

Ans. C: Angle of mandible

Frontal knots are unusual.

The appearance of the ligature mark varies with the type of ligature used and with the physical characteristics of the individual neck. Soft broad ligatures may not leave any recognizable marks. In most cases, the ligature does not completely encii le the neck.

Ans. Hanging

Ans. Salivary dribbling

Ans. Carotid artery

Ans. Homicidal hanging

Ans. Hanging

Ans. Pressure abrasion

Ans. is ‘c’ i.e., Occiput

Typical hanging : The ligature runs from the midline above the thyroid cartilage, symmetrically upward on both side of neck to the occipital region, the point of suspension (knot of ligature) being on occiput (at nape of neck).

Atypical hanging : Any variation from typical knot site (i.e. other than occiput/nape of neck) is called atypical hanging. Most common site of knot is near one side of mastoid process or angle of mandible.

Ans. is ‘c’ i.e., Ligature is cut away from the knot

For removal and preservation of the ligature from the dead body in case of hanging it is cut away from the knot and the cut ends are tied with string or wire.

Ans. is ‘a’ i.e., C2-3 fracture dislocation

Judicial hanging

In india, legal death sentence is carried out by hanging the criminal. Placement of knot beneath the chin (submental position) is thought to be most effective, ensuring a quicker death. However some prefer side of neck (left sub aural i.e. below angle of jaw) knot.

The preson is allowed to drop for 5-7 meters according to the weight, age and build of the person. Sudden stop causes fracture dislocation usually at level of C₂-C₃ or C₃-C₄ vertebra, and injury to spinal cord and brainstem (pons and medulla).

Hanging is best defined as the constriction of neck by a ligature tightened by the weight of the body. When the point of suspension is over the center of occiput, there is a maximum possibility of occlusion of the arteries and this is known as typical hanging as shown in the picture above., while all other points of suspension are called atypical hanging.