Chapter 14 Anthropology Forensics Vocab words

algor mortis

the cooling of body temp after death

glaister equation

formula used to determine the approximate time period since death based on body temp

liver mortis

purple/red discoloration of skin caused by blood pooling after death

rigor mortis

stiffness in muscles that occurs shortly after death

autolysis

process where a biological cell self-destructs

putrefaction

the decomp of animal proteins, especially by anaerobic microorganisms

adipocere

“grave wax"; insoluble fatty acids left as residue from preexisting fats from decompodinh vsfsvrtd.

saponification

the akaline hydrolysis of fatty acid esters; refers to reaction of a base with fat to form soap.

diagenesis

process of chemical & physical change in deposited sediment during its conversion to rock

forensic anthropology

type of applied physical anthropology that specializes in the human skeletal system for purposes of identifying unknown remains

osteology

study of bones

osteons

structure in bones that carry blood supply

femur

long bone found in the leg extending from the hip to the knee

tibia

long bone found in the leg extending from the knee to the anjle

humerus

long bone found in the arm extending from the shoulder to the elbow

radius

long bone found in the arm extending from the elbow to the wrist

os pubis

area on the anterior side of the pelvis the hip bones come together

ventral arc

bony ridge that is formed on the ventral (lower) side of the female os pubis

epiphyses

growth plates found at the ends of the long bones. they form in adolescence and fuse to the bone durng early adulthood

diaphysis

shaft of long bone

iliac crest

found on the top of the hip bone

clavicle

aka collarbone, its medial ends meet in the center of the body

sutures

immovable joints where bones are joined together

symphysis

place where 2 bones meet and may rub together

caucasoid

descriptor for ppl of European, Middle Eastern, and East Indian descent

Negroid

descriptor for ppl of African, Aborigine, and Melanesian descent

Mongoloid

descriptor for ppl of Asian, Native American, and Polynesian descent