Skeletal Identification Still needs work

Identifying the Race of a Skull · Forensic Anthropologists identify unidentified skeletal remains by studying and classifying different parts of the skeletal remains. · To make the process simpler, they separate all skulls into three racial categories: Mongoloid, Negroid, and Caucasoid. · Race is determined only by the skull if the skeleton is not of mixed nationalities. · Gonial inversion, mid-facial characteristics, and dental arcade are among the factors which determine the race of the skull. Picture:

The Mongoloid Skull · Belongs to person of the Asian race. · Significant Characteristics: - Narrow, short low-bridged nasal bones - Diamond-shaped nose holes - Variable profile: · Vertical chin · Squared zygomatic bones - Medium nasal slits - Medium cheek bones - Least mandible projection Picture:

The Negroid Skull · Belongs to person of the Black race. · Significant Characteristics: - Broad, flat, short nasal bridge - Square nose holes - Prognathic profile: · Vertical chin · Curved zygomatic bones - Wider inter-orbital area - Gutted nasal borders - Largest nasal slits - Prognarthic jaws Picture:

The Caucasoid Skull · Belongs to person of Caucasian race. · Significant Characteristics: - Narrow, long high-bridged nasal bones - Triangular nose holes - Straight profile: · Prominent chin · Curved zygomatic bones - Prominent nasal spine: - Steeped nasals - Smallest nasal slits - Smallest cheek bones Picture:

Skull and Teeth Gender Determinations Skull · Male skulls are larger than female skulls · The male has a higher forehead than a female, and a more sloping frontal area. · Females have sharper superior orbital borders. · Males have a more pronounced brow ridge. · Supraorbital ridges are extreme in males and slight in females. · Square chins indicate male. · Round chins indicate female. Teeth · Males have much larger teeth. · Males have a larger mandible. Picture: ml Picture:

Picture: /0108_pelvis.asp Female Pelvic Girdles have: · A greater pelvis width · A greater pelvis opening · Smaller sacrum length · Smaller sacrum width The lower part of the pelvis is angular in shape for males, and circular for females. Pelvic Girdle Gender Determinations Picture: /0108_pelvis.asp

Femur Gender Determinations Pictures: · Attachment of the femur to the pelvic girdle - Weight bearing surfaces are larger in males than in females. - Greater distance from femur to femur in males than in females. Pictures:

Age Determinations Skull · The cranium of a baby is not solid, but divided into four pieces. · Studying the calvarium, which is much larger in relation to the face between ages 0-5, can determine age. - The calvarium is much larger in relation to the face and mandible between ages The brain sutures are very far apart. · Studying a skull that is years of age demonstrates: - A relatively larger skull size. - Closer (almost meeting) brain sutures. Picture: Picture: medstat.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/age/bone5- 60cran.jpg

Newborn · No teeth · two sets of buds in jaw - Primary teeth - Permanent teeth Age 1-3 · 20 Primary teeth by age three Age 6-10 · Larger and stronger jaw · Greater amount of muscle attached to jaw · Buds for permanent teeth · All permanent teeth are in by age 10 Young Adult · Larger and stronger jaw · Jaw shows complete set of permanent teeth (32) · Wisdom teeth · Molar development is apparent at age Picture: medstat.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/age/dent18.html Age Determination--Jaws & Teeth Picture: Picture: medstat.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/age/decid.html

Spinal Column · Space between the cartilage and bones of a spinal column will lessen as a child ages. Pelvic Girdle · The pelvic girdle will not completely fuse the cartilage and bone during childhood. · With increasing age, the two lowermost pelvic bones kit together where they meet. Long Bones · Epiphyseal rings begin to appear around the age of puberty. · Cartilageneres plast separating epiphysist diaphysis remains in place for first 20 years of life. Pictures: medstat.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/age/ Picture: Age Determination Pictures: medstat.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/age/