Forensics Exam 1

Skull

28 bones, cranium and mandible, frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, zygomatics, maxilla, nasals, sphenoid, mandible

Coronal suture

across front

Sagittal suture

Behind coronal down the middle

Lambdoidal suture

Upside down U in back of skull

Frontal bone

Superior anterior aspect of cranial vault, glabella is the most anterior midline point, supraorbital margin is the upper boundary of orbit

Parietal

Lateral cranial vault, 2

Temporal

inferolateral cranial vault, 2, external acoustic meatus is the pathway running from outer to middle ear, mastoid process is the prominence of the temporal bone behind ear

Occipital

posterior cranial vault, attachment for neck muscles, nuchal crest for neck muscles, external occipital protuberance is attachment for nuchal ligament

Anterior nasal spine

Projection formed by the fusion of the two maxillary bones, part of the maxilla

Sphenoid

center of cranium, articulates with all other bones of the neurocranium

Mental eminence

projection of bone at the anterior midline of the mandible

Cervical vertebrae

7, smaller, transverse foramen

Thoracic vertebrae

12, smooth region called facet, 2 of them, long spinous process

Lumbar vertebrae

5, spinous process is broad

Tentative ID

very preliminary, wallet near body but unsure if it belonged to the deceased

Circumstantial ID

uses indirect evidence, remains were found at the same location as last seen as well as in the same clothes

Presumtive ID

evidence suggests a particular identity, remains had specific characteristics, clothes, wallet

Positive ID

all evidence supports the conclusion that a correct ID has been made, scientific matching of antemortem and postmortem records conclude that they are from one individual, no unexplainable differences

Coracoid Process

Anterior end opposite of acromion

Acromion

Flared end, opposite to coracoid process

Scapula

scapular spine posterior, anterior side is smooth

Glenoid Fossa

smooth surface where humerus articulates with scapula

Medial epicondyle (Humerus)

medial

Greater trochanter (humerus)

Large piece next to humeral head, proximal and lateral

Lesser trochanter (humerus)

rough smaller bit next to humeral head, proximal and anterior

Olecranon fossa

Humerus, indentation at the distal end, faces posterior

Olecranon process

Ulna, proximal, elbow

Trochlear notch

ulna, c shaped notch, proximal and anterior

Radial notch

notch next to trochlear notch, proximal and lateral

Styloid process (ulna)

tail at distal end

Radial head

Round end, proximal

Radial tuberosity

Rough portion of diaphysis, proximal and anterior

Ulnar notch

distal and medial, on other side of styloid process

Auricular surface

ear shaped surface that is the articulation between os coxae and sacrum

Greater sciatic notch

C shaped notch just inferior to the posterior iliac spine

Anterior superior iliac spine

big muscle attachment site, opposite to auricular surface

Ischiopubic ramus

between ischium and pubis

Acetabulum

rounded part where femur articulates

Greater trochanter (femur)

top hump near femoral head, lateral

lesser trochanter (femur)

Hump under femoral head, posterior and medial

Medial and lateral condyles (femur)

Distal

Patellar surface

Distal and anterior

Medial and lateral epicondyles (tibia)

proximal

Tibial tuberosity

rough surface, proximal and anterior

Fibular facet (tibia)

Proximal and lateral

Medial malleolus (tibia)

tail at end of bone, distal and medial

Fibula

Lateral part of shin

Fibular head

rounded end, proximal

Distal end fibula

ovally

Lateral malleolus

Distal

Malleolar fossa

Notch next to smooth surface, distal, medial, posterior

Hands

8 carpals, 5 metacarpals, 14 phalanges

Feet

7 tarsals, 5 metatarsals, 14 phalanges

Os Coxa

Illium (blade), ischium (posterior inferior part we sit on), pubis (anterior portion)

Superior

Towards the top

Inferior

towards the bottom

Medial

towards the middle

Lateral

towards the outside

Proximal

closer to attachment

Distal

farther away from attachment

Anterior

towards the front

Posterior

towards the back