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Forensic Anthropology: Studying Bones

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Presentation on theme: "Forensic Anthropology: Studying Bones"— Presentation transcript:

1 Forensic Anthropology: Studying Bones

2 Is It Human? Macroscopic differences
Greater Trocanter Head Lesser Trocanter Example here of macroscopic differences between a baboon femur and a human femur (thigh bone). Medail and Lateral epicondyles (patellar side) Baboon femur Human femur

3 Microscopic differences
Human bone thin section Dinosaur bone thin section

4 Determination of Sex 4 Symphysis pubic 2. 2. 3. 3. 1. 1.

5 Determination of Sex 2.

6 Determination of Sex: Cranium

7 Sex Determination - Skull
Trait Female Male Upper Edge of Eye Orbit Sharp Blunt Shape of Eye Orbit Round Square Zygomatic Process Not expressed beyond external auditory meatus Expressed beyond external auditory meatus Nuchal Crest (Occipital Bone) Smooth Rough and bumpy External Occipital Protuberance Generally Absent Generally present Frontal Bone Round, globular Low, slanting Mandible shape Rounded, V-shaped Square, U-shaped Ramus of mandible Slanting Straight

8 Determination of Sex Using Other Bones
E.g. maximum length of humerus in females is mm, while it is mm in males

9 Determination of Age The long bones include the femurs, tibias, and fibulas of the legs, the humeri, radii, and ulnas of the arms, and the phalanges of the fingers and toes.

10 Cartilage is darker on xray than solid bone. Epiphyses aren’t fused yet.
No cartilage visible. Epiphyses are fused.

11 Epiphyseal Fusion: A General Guide

12 Determination of Age from Bones
Ages 0-5: teeth are best – forensic odontology Baby teeth are lost and adult teeth erupt in predictable patterns Ages 6-25: epiphyseal fusion – fusion of bone ends to bone shaft epiphyseal fusion varies with sex and is typically complete by age 25 Ages 25-40: very hard Ages 40+: basically wear and tear on bones periodontal disease, arthritis, breakdown of pelvis, etc. Can also use ossification of bones such as those found in the cranium

13 Determination of Age from Bone: Signs of wearing and antemortem injury
Occupational stress wears bones at joints Surgeries or healed wounds aid in identification

14 Age Determination: Use of Teeth

15 3. Determination of Stature
Long bone length is proportional to height Tables for calculations (but these also depend to some extent on race) For example, the individual was an adult Caucasian, the height would be determine by: Humerus length = 30.8 cm Height = 2.89 (MLH) cm = 2.89 (30.8) cm = 167 cm (5’6”) ± cm

16 Determination of Race Three major anthropological racial groups based on observable skeletal features: Caucasoid: Negroid: Mongoloids:

17 Features of the Skull Used in Race Determination
Nasal index: The ratio of the width to the height of the nose, multiplied by 100 Nasal Spine Feel the base of the nasal cavity, on either side of the nasal spine – do you feel sharp ridges (nasal silling), rounded ridges, or no ridges at all (nasal guttering)? Prognathism: extended lower jaw Shape of eye orbits (round or squareish Nasal spine

18 Nasal Silling and Guttering
From: Beyers, S.N. (2005). Introduction to Forensic Anthropology

19 Determination of Race: Caucasian
Nasal spine: Prominent Progathism: straight Orbital openings: round Determination of Race: Caucasian Trait Nasal Index: <.48 Nasal Spine: Prominent spine Nasal Silling / Guttering: Sharp ridge (silling) Prognathism: Straight Shape of Orbital Openings: Rounded, somewhat square

20 Determination of Race: Asian (Asian decent and Native American decent)
Trait Nasal Index Nasal Spine Somewhat prominent spine Nasal Silling/ Guttering Rounded ridge Prognathism Variable Shape of Orbital Openings Rounded, somewhat circular

21 Determination of Race: African: (everyone of African decent and West Indian decent)
Trait Nasal Index >.53 Nasal Spine Very small spine Nasal Silling/ Guttering No ridge (guttering) Prognathism Prognathic Shape of Orbital Openings Rectangular or square

22 General Shapes of the Eye Orbits
From: Beyers, S.N. (2005). Introduction to Forensic Anthropology

23 Other Information We Can Get From Bones:
Evidence of trauma (here GSW to the head) Evidence of post mortem trauma (here the head of the femur was chewed off by a carnivore)

24 Videos Taboo crime scene: autopsies etc national geogrphic Secrets of the Dead: The Syphillis Enigma Interactive: The Inca Battefield Mystery

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