Question:

Identify the phenomenon shown in the image.

Show Hint

Greenish abdominal discoloration with marbling is a post-mortem, not a burn, change.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
  • Electric burn
  • Crocodile burn
  • Scalds
  • Putrefaction
Show Solution
collegedunia
Verified By Collegedunia

The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: The image shows the post-mortem changes of decomposition: greenish discoloration of the abdomen (starting in the right iliac fossa), marbling of superficial veins, skin slippage and bloating from gas formation. These are the classic signs of putrefaction.

Step 2: Putrefaction is the microbial decomposition of the body. After circulation stops, gut bacteria, chiefly Clostridium welchii (perfringens), migrate into the vessels and spread, releasing lecithinase that lyses cells and gases that bloat the body. The first external sign is greenish discoloration of the right iliac fossa.

Step 3: The distractors are antemortem injuries: electric burns show Joule burns/current marks, crocodile-skin burn is a flash electrical pattern, and scalds are moist-heat injuries with no charring. None produce marbling and green discoloration, so the answer is putrefaction.

Ref: StatPearls, Putrefaction.
Was this answer helpful?
0
0