Which of the following is a sign of strangulation?

Which of the following is a sign of strangulation?

• A. Petechial hemorrhage
• B. Broken wrist
• C. Headache
• D. Vomiting

Answer: (A)

The sign being tested is the appearance of petechial hemorrhages, which occur when neck compression during strangulation blocks venous return from the head and causes tiny capillaries to rupture. These small red or purple spots can appear on the eyes, face, or within mucous membranes and are a classic, relatively specific indicator of strangulation in forensic contexts. Other options don’t fit as signs of strangulation. A broken wrist is a fracture and not tied to strangulation physiology, while headache and vomiting are nonspecific symptoms that can arise from many different causes and don’t specifically point to strangulation.

The sign being tested is the appearance of petechial hemorrhages, which occur when neck compression during strangulation blocks venous return from the head and causes tiny capillaries to rupture. These small red or purple spots can appear on the eyes, face, or within mucous membranes and are a classic, relatively specific indicator of strangulation in forensic contexts.

Other options don’t fit as signs of strangulation. A broken wrist is a fracture and not tied to strangulation physiology, while headache and vomiting are nonspecific symptoms that can arise from many different causes and don’t specifically point to strangulation.