Types of Injuries
- Abrasion: Superficial, no bleeding. Friction mark = rougher than abrasion.
- Contusion (Bruise): Blunt force, intact skin, extravasated blood.
- Laceration: Irregular tear from blunt force. May show bridging.
- Incised wound: Clean cut from sharp weapon. Clean edges, no bridging.
Asphyxia
Types: hanging, strangulation (ligature, throttling), drowning, smothering. Key distinguishing features: ligature mark, neck fractures, water in lungs.
Important Poisons
- Organophosphates: Cholinergic excess — SLUDGE symptoms. Treatment: Atropine + PAM.
- Cyanide: Cell respiratory poison. Bitter almond smell. Cherry red lividity.
- Arsenic: Garlic smell in breath, rice-water stool, Mees lines in nails.
Identification Methods
Fingerprints, dental identification, DNA, personal belongings, anthropometry.
References & further reading
Every clinical claim in this article is anchored to a primary source. Click through to verify, and use the same habit in your revision.
Revision history
- 19 September 2026 — Initial publication
Frequently asked questions
How many forensic medicine questions in UPSC CMS?
Approximately 4-5 questions from Forensic Medicine in Paper I. These are often straightforward recall questions that are easy to score if you know the facts.
What topics are most important in forensic medicine?
Types of injuries (lacerations, abrasions, contusions), asphyxia types, toxicology (organophosphates, heavy metals), identification methods, and medical jurisprudence basics.
Is forensic medicine difficult?
No — forensic medicine is actually one of the easier subjects for UPSC CMS. Most questions are direct facts that can be memorized as one-liners. The ROI is very high.
Related reading
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