Which term describes the dark, red-brown stripe across the eyes that develops when the eyelids are not closed after death and may mimic trauma?

Which term describes the dark, red-brown stripe across the eyes that develops when the eyelids are not closed after death and may mimic trauma?

• A. Tache Noire
• B. Trajectory
• C. Trauma
• D. Tissue

Answer: (A)

This item tests recognizing a specific postmortem eye change that happens when the eyelids are left open after death. The term is tache noire. It appears as a dark, red-brown stripe along the eye where the palpebral conjunctiva and sclera are exposed. The color results from drying and pigment deposition on the conjunctiva/sclera after death, creating a staining that can resemble bruising or trauma. It’s a predictable postmortem artifact, not an actual injury, which is why this term best describes the finding. Other options don’t name this eye-specific postmortem change—trajectory refers to the path of an object, trauma is a general injury, and tissue is a broad term for bodily material, none of which capture the distinctive dark band seen with open eyelids after death.

This item tests recognizing a specific postmortem eye change that happens when the eyelids are left open after death. The term is tache noire. It appears as a dark, red-brown stripe along the eye where the palpebral conjunctiva and sclera are exposed. The color results from drying and pigment deposition on the conjunctiva/sclera after death, creating a staining that can resemble bruising or trauma. It’s a predictable postmortem artifact, not an actual injury, which is why this term best describes the finding. Other options don’t name this eye-specific postmortem change—trajectory refers to the path of an object, trauma is a general injury, and tissue is a broad term for bodily material, none of which capture the distinctive dark band seen with open eyelids after death.