Unit 9 Anthropology & Odontology Students will explore
characteristics of physical evidence and remains.
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Joseph Merrick, Proteus Syndrome Joseph Merrick Elephant Man
skeleton
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Forensic Anthropology Forensic Anthropology is a branch of
anthropology which specializes in the human skeletal system for the
purposes of identifying unknown remains. Forensic anthropologists
study skeletal remains whose identities and circumstances of death
are unknown or questionable. They analyze bodies that have
decomposed, been badly burned, or have become mummified or
skeletonized.
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Forensic Anthropology Using forensics, the following questions
can be answered: Are remains human Are the remains of one
individual or are they of mixed remains When did death occur Was
the body disturbed after death What are the gender, age, and race
of the individual What caused death What kind of death was it
homicide, suicide, accident, natural or undetermined Are there any
anatomical peculiarities, signs of disease, or old injuries
Individuals height, body weight, physique can be estimated
Male and Female Skeletal Remains sexing the skeletons is based
on the skull, jaw, brow ridge, pelvis and femur. Determining sex is
crucial when analyzing unidentified human remains. The forensic
anthropologist can make determination of sex by comparing basic
characteristics of certain bones. This of course is not always
accurate but for the most part male bones are larger in size to
female bones and are so because of the addition muscle that may
build up on the male body through adolescence and into
adulthood
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Male and Female Skeletal Remains: THE SKULL Skull has several
key skull differences between male and females Male cranial mass is
more blocky and massive compared to the females which are more
rounder at the top Occipital protuberance (large projection on the
back of head) is larger on males than female skull Mastoid process
on the male skull is larger and rough compared to the female skull
that has a smaller and smooth process The occipital bone on the
male skull has muscle lines and protuberances marked, where female
skull tends not to have muscle attachment lines. Zygomatic bone is
more pronounced on the male skull. The female Zygomatic arch does
not extend as a ridge posterior of the external auditory meatus, as
the males does extend. Forehead/frontal bone.. / males slant back
where female have a round forehead
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Male and Female Skeletal Remains: THE SKULL
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Male & Female Skeletal Remains: THE FACE The brow ridge
(supercilary-ridge above eyes) on a skeleton can help determine
gender. Females has less pronounced or non existent brow ridge.
Males have a pronounced and larger brow ridges, Can also be
described as females brow ridge margin is sharper, while males have
a round and dull ridge margin. Refer to previous picture
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Male & Female Skeletal Remains: THE MANDIBLE Mandible is
more rounded on the female skull creating a somewhat pointed chin
where the male has a more squared shape. The female mandible
measures an obtuse angle The male measures an acute angle. Refer to
slide #10
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Male & Female Skeletal Remains: THE PELVIS The pelvis or os
pubis has important characteristics that help determine sex
differentiation The pubic arch has a larger angle in the female
than the male. Males have a narrower angle where the two pubic
bones meet in front, measuring at 90 degrees or smaller Females
have wider angle where the two pubic bones meet in front, measuring
greater than 90 degrees. Females also have a wider pelvic opening.
Males have a narrower, heart-shaped pelvic inlet Females have an
open, circular pelvic inlet From an anterior view you will only see
the coccyx bone, on the male from the same view you can see both
the coccyx and the sacrum.
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Male & Female Skeletal Remains: THE PELVIS The pubic body
is narrower in males than in the females Males usually do not have
a ventral arc. The ventral arch is a bony ridge that is formed on
the ventral (lower) side of the female os pubis. Female pelvic bone
have a broader sciatic notch and raised auricular surface, where
the male has a narrower sciatic notch and a flat auricular surface.
Sacrum is straighter in the female and more curved in the males
Acetabulum- the socket in the pelvis- is larger in males.
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Male & Female Skeletal Remains: THE FEMUR Femur The length
of the femur is generally longer in the male skeleton. The diameter
of the femoral head longer and bigger in the male skeleton. The
oblique length of the trochanters is longer in the male
skeleton
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Determining Ancestry There are three major anthropological
racial groups based on observable skeletal features: Caucasoid,
Negroid, and Mongoloids. It is important to note that there is more
individual variation within races than there is general variation
among races. With the increasing multiethnic and interracial
society, many anthropologist do not feel confident making judgments
concerning ethnicity/race of skeletal remains, but facial
characteristics allow the examiner to narrow the field of identify.
They eye socket (orbits), nasal bone, skull, teeth and chin are all
examined. Caucasoid is a descriptor for people of European, Middle
Eastern and East Indian descent. Eye sockets-oval orbits Nasal
bone- long narrow nasal aperture (opening) Skull- narrow zygomatic
arches and narrow mandible. Teeth-triangle palate
Determining Ancestry Negroid is a descriptor for people of
African, Aborigine, and Melanesian descent. Eye sockets-square
orbits Nasal bone- wide nasal aperture Skull- pronounced zygomatic
arch Teeth-Rectangle palate Long bones are longer and have less
curvature and greater density.
Long Bones Diaphysis: shaft of bone Epiphysis: ends of bone
(long bones) Bones fuse in four stages Stage 1: Nonunion with no
epiphysis (no growth plate yet) Stage 2: nonunion with separate
epiphysis (growth plate formed but not attached) Stage 3: partial
union of the epiphysis (growth plate is beginning to attach) Stage
4: complete union of the epiphysis (growth plate is completely
attached and smooth)
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Determining Age Forensic anthropologist can estimate an
individuals age at the time of death by examining biological
changes that occurred Age can be estimated by when teeth are
erupting, bones are growing, and epiphyses (growth plates) are
forming and uniting, and closure of cranial sutures in the skull.
Between the ages of 25-30 years of age, age estimation becomes more
difficult. All age estimates are given in an age range to avoid
excluding possibilities.
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Fusing of Bone The stages of bones fusing occurs at different
ages in different bones as well as different in males and females.
There are general age determinations using epiphyseal union of the
clavicle and iliac crest Clavicle: about 26 yrs. (males and females
can differ pg 281) Iliac Crest: around 20 yrs (pg 281) Estimating
age based on cranial sutures can be done by examining the sutures.
Saggital suture: 26 yrs males, 29 yrs females (complete &
smooth) Coronal Suture: 35 + in males, 50+ in females (all 3
sutures) Lambodial suture: Determining age using the os pubis can
be done be examining the symphysis pubis.
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HANDEDNESS Handedness: By examining both the right and the left
of limb bones, it can be determined if a person was right or
left-handed. The favoritism of one hand uses the muscles more on
that limb, pulling on the periosteum and stimulating bone growth in
thickness. Individuals overall build can be determined by the
thickness of their bones and the characteristics of the bones at
specific muscle attachment sites. This is due to the stimulation of
the bone to thicken when stress is put on the periosteum. Repaired
fractures can also be identified based on the growth of bone at the
repair site.
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Region of the bodyBoneAge ArmHumerus bones in the head fused4-6
Humerus bones in the head fused to shaft18-20 Leg (femur)Greater
trochanter first appears4 Lesser trochanter first appears13-14
Condyles join shaft20 ShoulderClavicle and sternum close18-24
PelvisPubis, ischium are almost completely united 7-8 Ileum,
ischium, and pubic bones fully ossified 20-25 All segments of
sacrum united25-30 SkullLambdoidal suture closeBegins 21 ends 30
Sagittal suture close32 Coronal suture close50
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Injury & Disease Patterns of Bone Disease, injury and birth
defects are also revealed in the bones Spina bifida Arthritis
Fractures before and after death occurred Bones of a deceased
person break differently compared to the bones of a live person
Healing at the edge of a fracture indicates injuries occurred
during life.
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Injury Patterns to Bone Cause of death Obvious Marks on
skeleton Stab wounds Bullet holes Blows to the head Murder weapons
can leave a distinctive mark and can be matched
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NAME AND NUMBER DECIDUOUS (BABY) AND PERMANENT TEETH A.
Deciduous teeth - most dentists today use a modified version of the
Universal Numbering System for children, with letters instead of
teeth numbers. The primary teeth are designated by upper case
letters A through T, with A being the patient's upper right second
primary molar and T being the lower right second primary
molar.
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NAME AND NUMBER DECIDUOUS (BABY) AND PERMANENT TEETH B.
Permanent teeth - In the universal tooth numbering system, tooth
number 1 is the patient's upper right third molar, on the right
side of the mouth in the upper (maxillary) jaw. Numbering of teeth
continues along the upper teeth toward the front and across to the
last molar tooth back on the top left side (number 16). The tooth
numbering continues by assigning teeth numbers descending to the
lower left third molar (number 17) and follows the lower
(mandibular) jaw up to the tooth farthest back on the bottom right
side of the mouth (number 32). All teeth that should be there are
numbered, including those teeth that have been removed for any
reason or have not erupted yet (e.g. wisdom teeth).
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Total numbers of Teeth An adult has the potential to have the
following total types of teeth: Incisors: 8 Canines: 4 Premolars: 8
Molars: 12
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EMPLOY DENTITION PATTERNS AS A MEANS FOR BITE MARK
IDENTIFICATION The diameter of the injury typically ranges from
25-40 mm. Often a central area of bruising can be seen within the
marks from the teeth. This extravascular bleeding is caused by
pressure from the teeth as they compress the tissue inward from the
perimeter of the mark.
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EMPLOY DENTITION PATTERNS AS A MEANS FOR BITE MARK
IDENTIFICATION Description of the Prototypical Human Bitemark A
circular or oval (doughnut) (ring-shaped) patterned injury
consisting of two opposing (facing) symmetrical, U-shaped arches
separated at their bases by open spaces. Following the periphery of
the arches are a series of individual abrasions, contusions and/or
lacerations reflecting the size, shape, arrangement and
distribution of the class characteristics of the contacting
surfaces of the human dentition. Variations of the Prototypical
Bitemark - Variations include additions, subtractions, and
distortions
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EMPLOY DENTITION PATTERNS AS A MEANS FOR BITE MARK
IDENTIFICATION
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Computer reconstruction of bite mark, 2003 Scientists from the
Institute of Forensic Medicine collaborated with police in 2003 to
solve a triple homicide. Three women were found beaten to death in
an apartment outside of Zrich, Switzerland. One victim had a bite
mark on her shoulder. After creating dental casts and using 3-D
imaging technology to recreate the bite sequence, scientists were
able to prove to a jury that the suspect made the mark. He was
found guilty. Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of
Bern