does the neck normally break when someone is hanged?

Answer 1

Everything you wanted to know about hanging, but were afraid to ask:

A body discovered hanging or suspended in some way, usually contains telltale signs of a death due to the lack of oxygen. These include such signs as blue skin colour, burst blood vessels in the eyes and inflated lungs. Forensic pathologists examine the rope marks on the neck to determine if they contain evidently inflamed edges, a sign that the victim was alive before being hanged. However, when no inflammation marks are present, it suggests that the victim was dead before being hanged and the hanging was a form of cover up. The rope marks on the victim's neck are examined to check that they match the rope found at the scene of crime. The slightest difference of the rope impression from the actual rope itself, would undoubtedly imply that the rope was not the murder tool and where the victim did die of a lack of oxygen and does have evident bruises on the neck, the murder weapon is sought using the markings as a guide. As a general rule, all rope markings on the neck should be in the shape of an upside down V, where the knot would cause a bruise on the back of the neck, creating the point of the V.
Other facts pointing to murder may also be revealed when an examination of the neck is carried out. Strangulation usually breaks the hyoid bone located in the neck, but the bone is very rarely broken during hanging. The breakage of the hyoid would suggest manual strangulation, whereby the victim was strangled using the hands, or via means of another implement (e.g. cord, belt etc). When strangulation is the case, death may be caused due to a lack of air, but more likely, as a result of the deliberate compression of the neck, causing a vegal inhabitation, the situation where the stimulation of the neck's vagus nerve causes the heart to stop. In cases where the hyoid bone is not broken, but bruising is evident around the nose and mouth, a death caused by smothering is indicated, thereby dying due to a lack of oxygen.
* The rope marks (bruises) on the neck of the victim should correspond to the type of rope used. Photo courtesy of www.imageafter.com.
Copyright 2004-2005 Thinkquest Team 00206

Answer 2

method of capital punishment by suspending the condemned person by the neck, usually with a noosed rope or cord, from a frame with a crosspiece commonly known as a gallows. Hanging is the official means of execution in several countries.

Death through hanging may result from compression of the windpipe, obstruction of blood flow, and rupture of nerve structures in the neck; all may be the causes of death, especially when death is not instantaneous. Death comes instantly in a hanging in which the spinal cord is damaged or severed through the fracture or dislocation of the first three cervical vertebrae.

Originally, hanging was not a method of capital punishment, but of inflicting indignity on the dead body of a criminal. The practice of hanging an already executed murderer in chains on a gibbet, a simple gallows consisting of one upright post with a crosspiece at the top, continued in Great Britain well into the 19th century. During the days of the Roman Empire, however, Germanic tribes used hanging as a method of execution, and from them the measure was adopted by the Anglo-Saxon peoples. Hanging was first adopted in England in 1214, when a nobleman's son was hanged for piracy. In time, hanging displaced more barbarous methods of execution.

Answer 3

Oh gross. Why would you want to think about that? If you want to know what can happen when someone is hanged, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanging. Some of it can be pretty gruesome like decapitation but you can scroll down to the part titled medical effects for more detailed information.Some countried with civil law still include that as a method of capitol punishment.

Answer 4

yes if the rope is correctly positioned and the person falls a great enough distance the C2 dens process fractures, compressing the spinal cord causing instant death - this fracture in the medical world is commonly called a "hangman's fracture". Now if the hangman is inept, instead of a quick death they would slowly strangle to death.

Answer 5

If the rope is the proper length and thickness for the individual being hanged, the neck will break when the rope snaps taut. If the rope is too short they will strangle, and if it is too long it will behead them.

Answer 6

Yes

Answer 7

Yes,if the job is done correctly. A botched job sometimes pulled the head off.

Answer 8

Why in God,s name would you ask such a intresting Question ?

Answer 9

It all depends on where the knot is located.

Answer 10

ummmm, prolly. i guess it depends on how much u way. maybe if ur heavier it will, and if ur really light, it most likely wont.