In a body showing early putrefactive changes with haemolysed, uninterpretable blood, vitreous humour can still yield valid biochemical data. The property of the vitreous that BEST accounts for this is:

• A Its sequestration within the intact globe, away from gut organisms and circulating enzymes ✓
• B Its high glucose content inhibiting bacterial growth
• C Its continuous postmortem production by the ciliary body
• D Its very high potassium concentration being bacteriostatic

Explanation

The vitreous lies enclosed within the tough scleral envelope of the globe, is avascular, has sparse cells and low protein, and is remote from putrefactive organisms of the gastrointestinal tract. These features delay its biochemical alteration compared with blood, which haemolyses and is overrun by bacterial action early. The ciliary body stops aqueous production at death, and neither glucose nor potassium has meaningful antibacterial activity.

Reference: The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, K. S. Narayan Reddy, 34th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.