A boxer's (pugilistic) attitude seen in a body recovered from a fire is caused by:
- A Active defence movements before death
- B Postmortem heat stiffening of flexor muscles due to protein coagulation ✓
- C Rigor mortis developing rapidly in hot conditions
- D Antemortem fractures of the extensor compartments
Correct answer: B. Postmortem heat stiffening of flexor muscles due to protein coagulation
Explanation
The pugilistic (boxer's) attitude is a postmortem artifact caused by intense heat coagulating muscle proteins. The flexor muscles of the upper and lower limbs are larger in bulk than extensors, so they contract disproportionately when heat causes protein denaturation, pulling the limbs into a flexed fighting posture. It has NO medico-legal significance regarding manner of death or whether the individual was alive at time of fire.
Reference: The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (Narayan Reddy), 34th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.