[Findings in intermediate ridges of strangulation marks and their value as signs of vitality]

Ecchymotic skin ridges, which are frequently found between the ligature turns in cases of dual or multiple loop ligature indicate to many authors hanging in life. Our examinations on an unselected group of corpses have led to the result that extravasations on the ridges between the ligature turns can be produced many hours after death, even outside the hypostatic area. In the case of prolonged suspension, small sub- and intra-epidermal blisters filled with serous fluid and fat may form on wide ridged strips between the ligature turns; the cells of the raised epidermis show significant large fat vacuoles. The bullous changes of the skin as well as the ridge ecchymoses can easily be reproduced in post mortem experiments. Therefore, both results cannot prove ante-mortem hanging. The paper presents four cases of suicidal hanging with vesication on the ridge between the ligature turns.