1. Forensic Anthropology
The vertebral column

2. The Vertebral Column Cervical (5) Thoracic (12)
Lumbar (5)
Sacral (5)
Coccygeal (4)
Functions: support, movement of trunk
Total of 33 (usually) individual vertebra
5 types of vertebrae (plural)

4. General morphology – need to know
Vertebral body (ant)
Vertebral arch (post)
On each arch….
2 pedicles – attach arch to body
2 transverse processes – lateral projections
2 lamina – posterior surface of arch
Spinous process – points postero-inferiorly
2 articulations for each adjacent vertebra
2 superior
2 inferior
Encircle vert foramen
(form vert canal)

5. How to orient vertebrae
Superior facets face posteriorly
Inferior facets face anteriorly
Spinous process points postero-inferiorly

6. Articulations
Each vertebra articulates with 2 other vertebrae (superior and inferior)
Other articulations in….
The cervical vertebra: C1 articulates with the occipital
The thoracic vertebra: 2 ribs with EACH vert
Lumbar (NONE)
Sacrum: ilium of the innominate (x2)

9. Vertebral growth areas
3 growth centers for each vertebra
Centrum (body) and 2 arches
Arches fuse first
T spine <1 year old
C spine 2 years old
L spine 5 years old
Arches (at the pedicles) fuse to the centrum between 2 – 5 years of age
5 secondary growth centers at the transverse processes, spinous process, and superior and inferior vertebral bodies appear in teens, fuse in early adulthood

10. The C spine – unique characters
C1 – call the atlas
Occipital articulation surface
Articular surface for dens (p/i)
NO VERT BODY
C2 – called the axis
Dens (odontoid process)
Greek mythology – ATLAS holds up the world
Axis – turning point – rotational axis for C1/ skull
Functions stability and mobility of the head

11. Typical C spine
C3 – C7
Bifid spinous process
“Square-shaped” bodies
C7 has the longest spinous process and forms the vertebral prominence

13. The T spine Rib facets/costal pits – articular area of each
12 vertebrae (pair with 12 pairs of ribs)
Rib facets/costal pits – articular area of each
T2-T8 typically have 2 rib demi-facets on each lateral side of the vertebral body (4 total)
T1-T10 typically have 1 rib facet on each transverse process (2 total)

14. 1 demi facet (inferior) on each side
The T spine
T1 1 full facet (superior) on each side
1 demi facet (inferior) on each side
1 facet on each transverse process
T2-T8 2 demi facets on each side
1 facet on transverse process
T10 1 facet on each side of body
T11 1 facet on each side of the body
T12 same as T11, but with widened inferior body to meet with L1

16. The L spine
Notice it for what it is missing – No transverse foramena OR rib facets
Typically large bodied
Short stunted spinous process
S/I articular facets curved in (U-shaped) in order to increase stability

18. http://www. maitrise-orthop

19. Sorting the vertebrae
There should be a logical progression as the descend
Body size increases
Spinous process size changes
Increase in C spine
Decreases through T and L spine
Articular surface shape and position should match

20. Sorting the vertebrae Make three piles
Orient each with spinous process away, superior surface up
Begin at top and work way down matching inferior surface of upper with superior surface of next one down

21. The sacrum Large, wedge-shaped Composed of 5 sacral vertebrae – fused
Articulates with L5, both innominates
Characteristics
Large bodies
Reduced spinous processes

22. http://www. nlm. nih. gov/medlineplus/ency/images/ency/fullsize/19464

24. The sacrum – need to know
Superiorly
Sacral promontory (sup/ant): central, superior border of S1
Superior articular facets: articulation of L5-S1
Spinal canal
Ala (wings)
Laterally
Auricular surface
Spinous processes
Posteriorly –
Posterior sacral foramina
Anteriorly
Anterior sacral foramina
Transverse line of fusion

25. The sacrum – uses in forensics
Male vs female
Males sacrum curved
Females sacrum straight (WHY?)
Age
Transverse line between S1 – S2 closes mid twenties

26. The coccyx
Coccyx – group of fused bones vs coccygeal vertebra (individual bone)
Usually 4 segments fused – variation 3-5
CV1 had transverse processes and horns (cornua)
CV2+ are variable, small, frequently lost
Typically all fuse together and frequently to sacrum

27. http://content. answers

28. THE PELVIS The many names for this region
Pelvis: composed of 2 innominate bones and the sacrum
Innominate (or Os Coxae): each half of the “pelvic bowl” formed by the fusion of
Ilium
Ischium
Pubis
USE INNOMINATE WHEN COMPLETE
USE INDIVIDUAL BONE NAMES WHEN SEPARATE OR TO REFERENCE A SPECIFIC BONE OR FEATURE

29. THE INNOMINATE ILIUM – most superior of the 3 the blade
ISCHIUM - most inferior of the the ‘sit bone’
PUBIS – most anterior of the forms the symphysis

30. THE INNOMINATE FUNCTIONS: Support internal organs
Changes in the human pelvis allow for bipedal locomotion

31. THE INNOMINATE
Each innominate articulates with *sacrum (at the auricular surface) *one femur (at the acetabulum) *the other innominate (at pubic symph)

32. THE INNOMINATE – what to know
The ilium: medially -
Iliac crest – superior rim
Iliac fossa – superior depression under rim
ASIS and AIIS
Arcuate line – midline inferior ridge
Iliac tuberosity – posterior rugosity
Auricular surface - posterior (art.w/ sacrum)
Preauricular sulcus

33. THE INNOMINATE – what to know
The ilium: laterally –
Iliac crest
Iliac pillar – ridge on midline of blade
PSIS and PIIS
Greater sciatic notch
Acetabulum (actually the point where all three bones fuse together, art. w/femur)

34. THE INNOMINATE – what to know
The ischium and pubis – medially
Pubic ramus: anterior/superior, twists
Pubic symphysis: most anterior point
Ischiopubic ramus: flat
Obturator foramen: big hole
The ischium and pubis – laterally
Ischial spine: most inferior/posterior
Lesser sciatic notch: inferior
Ischial tuberosity: very thick
Pubic tubercle: anterior, above symph

35. THE INNOMINATE – L from R
Orient ilium (crest and blade) superior
Orient the pubic symphysis anteriorly and medially, ischium posterior and inferior
The acetabulum is on the side of origin (lateral)

36. THE INNOMINATE – fusion ages
Ischiopubic ramus; 5-8 years
Acetabululm; years
Ischial tuberosity; years
Iliac crest; years

37. THE INNOMINATE uses in forensics
The pelvis is best for sex – due to changes in the pelvis for childbirth, there are numerous, easy to distinguish features that help differentiate males from females in both the PUBIS and the ILIUM
ALSO, well developed methods for aging adults based on changes in the PUBIC SYMPHYSIS

38. THE INNOMINATE uses in forensics
TO RECAP:
SEX: PUBIS AND ILIUM
AGE: FUSIONS, AURICULAR SURFACES, PUBIC SYMPHYSIS