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Forensic Anthropology Study of bones
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Questions to ask about bones 1.Are the bones human? 2.What was the ____ of the individual? A.Size B.Age C.Sex D.Race E.Occupation 3.How long has the person been dead? 4.What is the cause and manner of death?
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What was person’s size? Estimated height of female: (centimeters) H= femur length x 2.21 + 61.41 H= tibia length X 2.53 + 72.57 H= humerus length X 3.14 + 64.97 Estimated height of male (cm) H= femur length x 2.23 + 69.08 H= tibia length X 2.39 + 81.68 H= humerus length X 2.97 + 73.57
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What was the person’s age? Look at: –Teeth (20 baby teeth) –32 permanent teeth in adults (complete by age 12) –Skull (sutures fuse over time) –Long bones –Pelvis –Ribs: –Bone density Easier in younger victims as bones and teeth develop
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Long bones Epiphysis: ends of long bones Diaphysis: shaft of long bones ossification- fusing of epiphysis and diaphysis Bones don’t completely fuse until age 25 Birth (300 bones) Adult (206 bones)
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Ribs Sternal areas – where ribs join breastbone Young- smooth and rounded Older- pitted and sharp
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What was the person’s sex? Not easy until puberty In males: –Size and bone thickness greater –Diameters of the heads of the humerus, radius and femur are larger
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Sex determination (pelvis) FemaleMale Wide/shallowNarrow/deep U shaped subpubic angle V shaped subpubic angle wider sciatic notchSmall sciatic notch smootherrougher Small muscle attachments (ridges) Large muscle attachments (ridges)
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Pubic symphysis Cartilage between 2 bones During pregnancy, a hormone softens the cartilage, and scars (pits) are formed.
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Sex Determination (skulls) FemalesMales Vertical foreheadSloping forehead Smaller ridges/crestsLarger ridges/crests Narrow zygomaticWide zygomatic Small mandibleLarge mandible Narrow ascending ramus (straight) Wide ascending ramus (slight curve) Small mastoid processLarge mastoid process No occipital protuberance occipital protuberance
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What was the person’s race? Caucasian Negroid Mongoloid Difficult
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Caucasians High, rounded, or square skulls Straight faces Narrow, protruding noses Triangular eye sockets
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Negroid Lower and narrower skulls Wider, flatter noses Prominent, protruding teeth Square eyes
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Mongoloids Broad, round skulls Arched profile Round eye sockets Wide facial dimensions
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What was their occupation? Stenographer - bumps on pelvis Florist/typist – arthritic fingers Milked cows – bumps on neck bones Seamstress (pins)- notch in front tooth Pipe smoker - worn edge on front tooth Horse rider - larger ridges on femur
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Occupation? Weightlifter - large ridge on humerus Clarinet player- small bumps at hinge of jaw Trumpet player-large ridges on clavicle
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Other evidence for ID Clothing, jewelry Healed fractures Nicks in bones from knives or gunshots Artificial hips or pacemakers Bone cancers Dental patterns DNA from teeth or bones Mitochondrial DNA
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How long has the person been dead? PMI = Post-mortem Interval
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Post-Mortem Interval 1.Examine artifacts at the burial site 2.Chemical analyses - breakdown of nitrogen - breakdown of amino acids 3.UV light - fresh bones fluoresce (glow) pale blue - diminishes over time, from outside in 4.Radioactive isotopes - increased amounts since 1950 - strontium 90, cesium 137, tritium
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Antemortem- before death Fractured bones will heal Callus- scar formation at the injury site Perimortem- at time of death »No healing, no callus
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Bones affected by: Occupation Right handed or left handed Activity level Nutrition Disease Health
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Disease Arthritis Anemia Osteoporosis Too many minerals in the water Malnutrition
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Facial Reconstruction http://www.forensicartist.com/reconstructio n.htmlhttp://www.forensicartist.com/reconstructio n.html
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Other websites http://medstat.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/ http://medlib.med.utah.edu/WebPath/GEN ERAL.htmlhttp://medlib.med.utah.edu/WebPath/GEN ERAL.html http://www.afip.org/Departments/edu/upco ming.htmhttp://www.afip.org/Departments/edu/upco ming.htm
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