What are furrow marks?

What are furrow marks?

• A. Marks left on the neck from impact injuries
• B. Marks on the neck from bruising
• C. Furrows on the neck produced by rope or cord used in hanging or ligature strangulation
• D. Marks on the neck from postmortem changes

Answer: (C)

Furrow marks are the groove-like indentations on the neck caused by a constricting cord or rope around the neck, as seen in hanging or ligature strangulation. The ligature presses the skin, creating a distinct, linear mark that follows the path of the cord and may even show the knot pattern. This sign directly reflects how the death occurred—through constriction by a ligature—unlike marks from blunt impact or changes that happen after death. So the marks are the skin’s response to the ligature’s pressure, not bruising from an impact or postmortem changes.

Furrow marks are the groove-like indentations on the neck caused by a constricting cord or rope around the neck, as seen in hanging or ligature strangulation. The ligature presses the skin, creating a distinct, linear mark that follows the path of the cord and may even show the knot pattern. This sign directly reflects how the death occurred—through constriction by a ligature—unlike marks from blunt impact or changes that happen after death. So the marks are the skin’s response to the ligature’s pressure, not bruising from an impact or postmortem changes.