Question:
This is seen in postmortem examination of which type of asphyxia:
This is seen in postmortem examination of which type of asphyxia:
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Where are the injuries \u2014 around the mouth/nose or on the neck? Perioral pressure marks point to closure of the external air passages.
Updated On: Aug 27, 2026
- Throttling
- Smothering
- Hanging
- Garrotting
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The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understand the question. The clinical photograph is a postmortem finding of the face and mouth region. We must identify which mechanical asphyxial death produces these findings. Mechanical asphyxia is grouped by the site/mechanism of airway obstruction: smothering (closure of external nose and mouth openings), throttling (manual strangulation of the neck), hanging and garrotting (ligature/cord around the neck).
Step 2: Define smothering. Smothering is the mechanical occlusion of the external respiratory orifices (nose and mouth) by a hand, soft material (pillow, cloth) or other object. Because the assailant presses over the mouth and nose, the characteristic postmortem signs are located around the lips, nostrils and inner aspect of the cheeks: abrasions and pressure marks around the nose and mouth, contusions/bruising of the lips, and lacerations or contusions of the inner surface of the lips and gums caused by pressure of the lips against the teeth. The depicted facial/perioral injuries match this pattern, so the answer is Smothering.
Step 3: Why the other options are wrong.
(A) Throttling (manual strangulation) shows signs on the neck - crescentic fingernail abrasions, fingertip (disc-shaped) bruises over the neck, and fracture of the hyoid bone or thyroid cartilage - not perioral injuries.
(C) Hanging produces an obliquely placed, non-continuous ligature mark high on the neck above the thyroid, dribbling of saliva, and signs of suspension; the face does not show the perioral pressure injuries seen here.
(D) Garrotting (strangulation by a cord/ligature tightened from behind, often with a rod) produces a horizontal, low, continuous ligature mark around the neck, again a neck finding rather than a mouth finding.
Final answer: B - Smothering.
Step 2: Define smothering. Smothering is the mechanical occlusion of the external respiratory orifices (nose and mouth) by a hand, soft material (pillow, cloth) or other object. Because the assailant presses over the mouth and nose, the characteristic postmortem signs are located around the lips, nostrils and inner aspect of the cheeks: abrasions and pressure marks around the nose and mouth, contusions/bruising of the lips, and lacerations or contusions of the inner surface of the lips and gums caused by pressure of the lips against the teeth. The depicted facial/perioral injuries match this pattern, so the answer is Smothering.
Step 3: Why the other options are wrong.
(A) Throttling (manual strangulation) shows signs on the neck - crescentic fingernail abrasions, fingertip (disc-shaped) bruises over the neck, and fracture of the hyoid bone or thyroid cartilage - not perioral injuries.
(C) Hanging produces an obliquely placed, non-continuous ligature mark high on the neck above the thyroid, dribbling of saliva, and signs of suspension; the face does not show the perioral pressure injuries seen here.
(D) Garrotting (strangulation by a cord/ligature tightened from behind, often with a rod) produces a horizontal, low, continuous ligature mark around the neck, again a neck finding rather than a mouth finding.
Final answer: B - Smothering.
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