Human Remains
The Postmortem Interval: Determining the Time of Death Pathologist usually determines Done most accurately within the first 24 hrs of death Pathologist usually determines Done most accurately within the first 24 hrs of death
Algor mortis Cooling rate of the body after death Glaister formula –H=(98°F-internal temperature)/1.5 –Body generally cools 1 to 1.5 degrees per hour until it reaches environmental temp. Cooling rate of the body after death Glaister formula –H=(98°F-internal temperature)/1.5 –Body generally cools 1 to 1.5 degrees per hour until it reaches environmental temp.
Factors to consider –Temp. of environment –Type of clothing –Clothing wet or dry –Air movement –Layers of clothing –Surface area to body mass Factors to consider –Temp. of environment –Type of clothing –Clothing wet or dry –Air movement –Layers of clothing –Surface area to body mass
Livor Mortis Pooling of blood after the heart stops, caused by gravity Can indicate the position of the body at the time of death None found in areas of the body that touch the ground Begins within ½ hr after death After 12 hrs discoloration will not move Pooling of blood after the heart stops, caused by gravity Can indicate the position of the body at the time of death None found in areas of the body that touch the ground Begins within ½ hr after death After 12 hrs discoloration will not move
Rigor Mortis Rigor Mortis Rigor Mortis Rigor Mortis Rigidity of the skeletal muscles after death due to buildup of calcium ions Occurs within 2 or 3 hrs after death Gone within 30 hrs when muscle protein begins decomposing Affected by temp., dehydration, condition of muscles, and use prior to death Rigidity of the skeletal muscles after death due to buildup of calcium ions Occurs within 2 or 3 hrs after death Gone within 30 hrs when muscle protein begins decomposing Affected by temp., dehydration, condition of muscles, and use prior to death
Decomposition Gradual breakdown of dead organic matter which releases elements and compounds Caused by bacteria and fungi autolysis occurs as well Gradual breakdown of dead organic matter which releases elements and compounds Caused by bacteria and fungi autolysis occurs as well
Stages of decomposition 1.Fresh Fresh 2.Initial decay Initial decayInitial decay 3.Putrefaction Putrefaction 1.Fresh Fresh 2.Initial decay Initial decayInitial decay 3.Putrefaction Putrefaction 4.Black putrefaction Black putrefactionBlack putrefaction 5.Butyric fermentation Butyric fermentationButyric fermentation 6.Dry decay Dry decayDry decay
Rate of decomposition Dependent on environmental factors Fastest in warm, humid areas Slowest in cold, arid areas Results in either skeletonization or mummification Dependent on environmental factors Fastest in warm, humid areas Slowest in cold, arid areas Results in either skeletonization or mummification
Forensic Anthropology Anthropology – study of humankind including anatomy, variability, evolution, and culture Forensic anthropology – specializes in the human skeletal system and its changes and variations, for purposes of legal inquiry Anthropology – study of humankind including anatomy, variability, evolution, and culture Forensic anthropology – specializes in the human skeletal system and its changes and variations, for purposes of legal inquiry
Bodies are decomposed, badly burned, or mummified Identification of crime victims Cause of death Time of death (approx.) Demographics Bodies are decomposed, badly burned, or mummified Identification of crime victims Cause of death Time of death (approx.) Demographics
Human vs. Animal Bones Osteology – study of bones Can be determined by visual inspection Can be determined through microscopic examination (osteons irregular pattern in humans) Osteology – study of bones Can be determined by visual inspection Can be determined through microscopic examination (osteons irregular pattern in humans)
The Skeleton Adult human has 206 bones Classified as long (arms), short (wrist), flat (scapula), or irregular (vertebrae) Adult human has 206 bones Classified as long (arms), short (wrist), flat (scapula), or irregular (vertebrae)
Estimating Height Using Long Bones See page 275
Sex Determination Most obvious differences in pubis, sacrum, and ilium Also shape of skull and mandible and size of occipital prtuberance Size of bones Sacrum is straighter in females Space in middle of pelvic bone is larger in women Most obvious differences in pubis, sacrum, and ilium Also shape of skull and mandible and size of occipital prtuberance Size of bones Sacrum is straighter in females Space in middle of pelvic bone is larger in women
Characteristics of Pubic Bone Width of arch (larger in fem) Width of body (wider in fem) Existence of well-defined ventral arc (not present in male) Width of arch (larger in fem) Width of body (wider in fem) Existence of well-defined ventral arc (not present in male)
Determining Sex Using Skull Features Angle of mandible Space at between mandible attachment Size of cranial bones Angle of mandible Space at between mandible attachment Size of cranial bones
Determining Age page 281 Teeth erupting, bones growing Closure of cranial sutures Changes in epiphyses Teeth erupting, bones growing Closure of cranial sutures Changes in epiphyses
Age based on cranial sutures Sagittal Coronal Lambodial
Sagittal completely closed –Male 26 or older –Female 28 or older Sagittal completely closed –Male 26 or older –Female 28 or older All three major sutures completely closed –Male 35 or older –Female 50 or older
Age based on pubic bone Pattern on symphysis –regular rows or furrows in younger individuals –smooth with an oval surface –Breakdown of the bone in older individuals Pattern on symphysis –regular rows or furrows in younger individuals –smooth with an oval surface –Breakdown of the bone in older individuals
Determining of Race p Caucasoid –European, Middle Eastern, East Indian Negroid –African, Aborigine, Melanesian Mongoloids –Asian, Native American, Polynesian Caucasoid –European, Middle Eastern, East Indian Negroid –African, Aborigine, Melanesian Mongoloids –Asian, Native American, Polynesian
Caucasoid Long, narrow nasal aperture Triangular palate Oval orbits Narrow zygomatic arches Narrow mandibles Long, narrow nasal aperture Triangular palate Oval orbits Narrow zygomatic arches Narrow mandibles
Negroid Wide nasal aperture Rectangular palate Square orbits More pronounced zygomatic arches Long bones are longer, less curvature, greater density Wide nasal aperture Rectangular palate Square orbits More pronounced zygomatic arches Long bones are longer, less curvature, greater density
Mongoloid More rounded nasal aperture Parabolic palate Rounded orbits Wide zygomatic arches More pointed mandibles More rounded nasal aperture Parabolic palate Rounded orbits Wide zygomatic arches More pointed mandibles
Facial Reconstruction Uses standard tissue thickness and facial muscles to build a new face on a skull Not completely accurate, but has proven helpful Uses standard tissue thickness and facial muscles to build a new face on a skull Not completely accurate, but has proven helpful
Steps in facial reconstruction Establish gender, age, race Glue markers on skull for tissue thickness Mark muscle insertion points Establish gender, age, race Glue markers on skull for tissue thickness Mark muscle insertion points Mount eyes in sockets Apply clay Determine nose and mouth thickness and width Cover the skull with layers of skin and add detail
After reconstruction Photographs distributed Skull-photo superimpositions Proportion most important Photographs distributed Skull-photo superimpositions Proportion most important
Cause of death Stab wounds Bullet holes Blows to the head Tool mark Stab wounds Bullet holes Blows to the head Tool mark
Bone Anomalies Healed breaks or fractures Joint replacements Osteoporosis Arthritis Healed breaks or fractures Joint replacements Osteoporosis Arthritis
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