At autopsy, a body shows dark red lividity that does NOT blanch on pressure and cannot be shifted by repositioning the body. These findings indicate postmortem interval of approximately:
- A Less than 2 hours
- B 2–6 hours
- C More than 12 hours (typically 8–12 hours for fixation) ✓
- D 6–12 hours
Correct answer: C. More than 12 hours (typically 8–12 hours for fixation)
Explanation
Postmortem lividity (hypostasis) passes through three phases: during the first 6–8 hours it is unfixed and blanches on pressure and shifts with repositioning; between 8–12 hours fixation begins as haemolysis and haemoglobin impregnation of tissues occur; beyond 12 hours lividity is fully fixed—it neither blanches nor shifts. A lividity that is fixed and non-shifting places the minimum postmortem interval at roughly 8–12 hours or more.
Reference: The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (Narayan Reddy), 34th ed.
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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.