A body recovered from an unlocked room shows a brownish-black transverse band across the exposed part of the bulbar conjunctiva, adjacent to the limbus, in both eyes. The eyelids were found partially open. This appearance represents:
- A Petechial haemorrhage of asphyxial death
- B Drying of the exposed conjunctiva, known as tache noire ✓
- C Subconjunctival ecchymosis from head injury
- D Putrefactive staining by sulphmethaemoglobin
Correct answer: B. Drying of the exposed conjunctiva, known as tache noire
Explanation
Tache noire is a brownish-black band formed by desiccation of the exposed bulbar conjunctiva and adjacent cornea when the eyelids remain incompletely closed after death. It is a postmortem drying artefact appearing within about a day and must not be misread as subconjunctival haemorrhage or as a sign of poisoning. Petechiae and traumatic ecchymosis are red-purple, punctate or blotchy lesions rather than a clean transverse band, and they are not confined to the area left uncovered by the lid margin.
Reference: Narayan Reddy, The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 34th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.