Intro to Forensic Anthropology Exam 1

What is forensic anthropology?

The application of anthropological methods and theory – esp. those related to the recovery & analysis of human remains - to matters of legal concern

Skeletal biologist

Human bone and human variation

Hired as consultants on forensic cases:

Search and recovery, excavation of buried remains, skeletal analysis, trauma analysis, mass fatalities, and identification.

Types of cases:

Skeletonized, mummified, burned, and decomposed

What are the three main periods:

1-Formative Period (early 1800s-1938), 2-Consolidation Period (1939-1971), 3-Modern Period (1972-present)

Formative Period (early 1800s-1938)

Rise of anatomy, Anthropometry, Skull collections, and studies of human variation.

Parkman Murder (1849)

Dr. George Parkman was murdered by Harvard chemistry prof John W. Webster over debt. Dismembered segments in the privy, furnace, and chest. Fatal stab wound between the ribs. Solved by Nathaniel Keep (the dentist) using a mold of Parkman’s teeth.

Sausage Vat Murder (1897)

“Sausage King of Chicago” Adolph Luetgert killed wife Louisa. Disposed body in vat of potash. George A. Dorsey testified bones from human female.

Thomas Dwight (1843-1911)

Father of Forensic Anthropology, Physician, anatomist, and professor at Harvard. The Identification of the Human Skeleton: A Medico-legal Study (1878).

Earnest Hooton (1887-1954)

Physical Anthropologist at Harvard, 1943: Medico-Legal Aspects of

Physical Anthropology, and Students opened first doctoral programs

Establishment of skeletal research collections

Hamann-Todd Osteological Collection (>3000 (1893-1938))

Robert J. Terry Anatomical Collection (>1700 (1910-1967))

Frye Standard (1923)

Evidence = established and generally accepted, Researcher as expert

Guide to the Identification of Human Skeletal Material (1938)

Wilton Krogman (1903-1987) Pamphlet for FBI

Human Skeleton in Forensic Medicine (1962)

First textbook

World War II

Central Identification Laboratory for the US Army’s Grave Registration Service in Hawaii (CILHI)

• 2003 – Joint POW MIA Accounting Command (JPAC)

• 2015 – Defence POW MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA)

Anthropology Research Facility (1980)

University of Tennessee, Knoxville (William M. Bass)

Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals (1993)

-Judge as “Gatekeeper”

-Theory or technique:

• Tested

• Peer-reviewed

• Known error rate

• Standards for use

• Generally accepted

Employment in forensic anthropology:

-University professors

• Medical examiners/Coroner offices

• Museums

• DPAA

• FBI

• International Committee for the Red

Cross (ICRC)

How do forensic anthropologists assist in casework?

Identification Hierarchy (is it bone, human, modern, how many individuals, and who is it?)

Cases of extreme fragmentation:

Morphology, elemental analysis, radiography

Important distinction should be made ASAP:

Shape of bone, structure, human variation

MEDICOLEGAL DEATH INVESTIGATION SYSTEM responsible for:

• Conducting death investigations

• Certifying cause, manner, and circumstances of unnatural and unexplained deaths

A process to determine:

• Who died?

• When did the death occur?

• Where did the death occur?

• What was the cause of death?

• What was the manner of death?

• What was the mechanism of death? (If applicable)

Cause of death:

• Physical disease

• Physical condition

• Physical Injury

• Combination of the above

• Acute v. chronic

Manner of death:

• Natural

• Accident

• Suicide

• Homicide

• Undetermined

MECHANISM OF DEATH

The immediate physiologic derangement resulting in death, which is not etiologically specific

• Haemorrhage

• Cardiac arrhythmia

• Sepsis

• Etc.

What deaths are investigated?

-Varies by state or county law; typically:

• • Sudden, unexpected deaths with no known underlying medical

  condition

  • Suspicious circumstances, such as suspected overdoses

  • Apparent or suspected traumas

  • Occupational

  • Perioperative (around the time of surgery)

  • Deaths in a prison

  • Infant with no known underlying cause or stillbirths

  • Unidentified individuals

Death investigation:

• Scene investigation

• Interviews with next-of-kin

• Review of recent medical history

• Examination of body

Coroners

oversee death investigations within particular jurisdictions

• Elected or appointed

• Common qualifications:

• Registered voter

• 18-25 years of age

• No felonies

• Training program

Medical examiners

physician who investigates deaths that are sudden, unexpected, or violent

• • Not required to be a forensic

  pathologist

  • Most – need additional specialized

  training in forensic pathology or

  related field

Forensic pathologists

medical specialist who determines cause and manner of death through postmortem exam

• • Conducts autopsies and other

  postmortem examinations

  • Medical degree + residency +

  fellowship + certification

Medicolegal Death Investigators

• First to examine the death scene

• Collection information and

evidence

• Liaise with families and law

enforcement

• Ensures proper handling of body

+ chain of custody

Consult with coroners/medical examiners to:

• Aid in identification

• Document antemortem injuries

• Document perimortem injuries

• Document postmortem damage

Who is in charge of the body?

Coroner or medical examiner

Who is charge of the scene?

Law enforcement (or equivalent)

Courtroom

• Scientific evidence is used in legal decisions

• Courts rely on experts to interpret evidence

• Experts:

• • Possess education, training, licensing, or board certification

  • Possess specific experience within their area of avowed

  expertise, obtained through experience on the job

The Adult Skeleton:

~206~ bones

• Skull (28)

• Vertebrae (24)

• Sacrum and coccyx (2)

• Ribs (24)

• Sternum and hyoid (2)

• Upper limbs (10)

• Hands (54)

• Lower limbs (10)

• Feet (52)

Osteology

-The study of the structure and function of the skeleton and bony structures

-Function of bones:

• 1. Support

  2. Protection

  3. Movement

  4. Nourishment

What is bone?

Composed of two main fractions:

• • Organic (40%) + Inorganic (60%)

• • Provides tensile strength

• • Inorganic (60%)

• • Provides compressive strength

What is bone?

Compact/cortical bone

• • Dense, hard exterior

  • Provides strength

Trabecular/Spongy/Cancellous

• • Crania → diplöe

  • Interior open cell porous network

  • Absorbs force

Type of Bone:

1. Long

2. Short

3. Flat

4. Sesamoid

5. Irregular

6. (Accessory)

Long bone structure:

• Diaphysis (shaft)

• Metaphysis

• Epiphysis

• (Medullary cavity)

Bone number varies by age

• ~800 at 11 weeks in utero

• ~350 at birth

• ~206 in adulthood

Intramembranous

Bone formed directly in connective tissue

Endochondral

• Bone replaces cartilaginous model over time

• Epiphyses grow separately and fuse after the end of the growth period

Modeling and Remodeling of bone:

• Osteoblasts

• Osteocytes

• Osteoclasts

The Human Skeleton

• Skull = Cranium + Mandible

• Postcranial skeleton = Everything below skull

• Axial skeleton

• Appendicular skeleton

Planes of reference:

1. Sagittal

2. Coronal

3. Transverse

Standard anatomical position

• Lying on back/standing upright

• Looking forward

• Hands at sides

• Palms up and thumbs out

• Feet together

• Toes forward

The Skull

• 8 paired bones

• Temporal, Parietal, Maxilla, Zygomatic, Lacrimal, Inferior Nasal Concha, Palatine, Nasal

• 6 unpaired bones

• Frontal, Occipital, Ethmoid, Sphenoid, Vomer, Mandible

• 3 paired bones of the middle ear

• Malleus, Incus, Stapes

Sutures of the skull:

• Fibrous joints between cranial bones

• Allows tiny amounts of movement

• Allows dissipation of force

• Use in age estimation

Skull sutures:

Sagittal, Coronal, and Lambdoid

Frontal:

• Unpaired bone (midline)

• Superior anterior aspect of cranial vault

• “Forehead”

Glabella

The most anterior midline point on the frontal bone, usually above the frontonasal suture

Supraorbital margin:

Upper boundary of orbit

Parietal:

• Paired (left and right)

• Lateral cranial vault

Temporal:

• Paired (left and right)

• Inferolateral cranial vault

• Houses the middle ear & inner ear

• Articulates with mandible

External Acoustic Meatus (EAM):

Pathway running from the outer ear to the middle ear

Mastoid Process:

Prominence of the temporal bone behind the ear

Occipital:

• Unpaired

• Posterior cranial vault

• Attachment site for neck muscles

Nuchal Crest (Superior Nuchal Line):

Attachment site for neck muscles

External Occipital Protuberance:

Attachment for the nuchal ligament and the trapezius muscle

Nuchal Crest (Superior Nuchal Line)

Attachment site for neck muscles

External Occipital Protuberance

Attachment for the nuchal ligament and the trapezius muscle

Foramen Magnum

The large hole in the occipital through which the brainstem passes inferiorly into the vertebral canal

Zygomatic:

• Paired (left and right)

• “Cheek bones”

• Make up later aspect of orbit

Zygomatic Arch:

Arch formed by the Zygomatic and Temporal bones

Maxilla:

• Paired (left and right)

• Lower cheek

• Forms floor of orbit and nasal aperture

• Forms anterior 2/3 of hard palate

Nasal Aperture:

Bony inlet of the nose formed by the nasal and maxillary bones

Anterior Nasal Spine:

Projection formed by the fusion of the two maxillary bones at the intermaxillary suture

Nasals:

• Paired (left and right)

• Bridge of nose

• Top of Nasal Aperture

Sphenoid:

• Unpaired

• Center of cranium

• Articulates with all other bones of the

neurocranium and most facial bones

• Unites the neurocranial and facial

skeletons

• Contributes to the bony eye orbit

• Seats pituitary gland

Mandible:

• Articulates with the Temporal bone

• “Lower jaw”

• Houses lower dental arcade

Mental eminence:

Projection of bone at the anterior midline of the mandible

Cranial Landmarks:

-Glabella (g): most anterior midpoint on frontal bone

-Nasion (n): intersection of the frontonasal suture and the midsagittal plane

-Prosthion (pr): most anterior point on the alveolar process of the maxilla

-Bregma (b): point where sagittal and coronal sutures intersect

-Lambda (l): point where sagittal and lambdoidal sutures meet

-Basion (ba): point where the anterior border of the foramen magnum is intersected by the mid-sagittal plane

Dentition:

32 adult teeth:

• 16 in upper jaw (maxillae)

• 16 in lower jaw (mandible)

4 equal quadrants:

• • 8 teeth per quadrant

  • Upper right

  • Upper left

  • Lower right

  • Lower left

Types of teeth:

Incisors

• 2 per quadrant

Canines

• 1 per quadrant

Premolars

• 2 per quadrant

Molars

• 3 per quadrant

Adult dental formula: 2:1:2:3/2:1:2:3

Deciduous teeth:

Dental formula for juveniles: 2:1:0:2/2:1:0:2

• 2 incisors

• 1 canine

• 0 premolars

• 2 molars

Thorax:

1. Hyoid

2. Vertebrae (24)

• Cervical (7)

• Thoracic (12)

• Lumbar (5)

3. Sternum

4. Ribs (24)

• 12 per side

5. Sacrum

6. Coccyx

Spinal column

• 26 bones

• 24 vertebrae

• Sacrum

• Coccyx

Regions of the vertebral column:

• 7 cervical vertebrae

• 12 thoracic vertebrae

• 5 lumbar vertebrae

Mnemonic (Mealtimes):

• 7 = breakfast

• 12 = lunch

• 5 = dinner

How to tell vertebrae apart:

• Cervical

• Characterized by transverse foramina

• Thoracic

• Characterized by:

• - Long spinous process

• - Articulations for ribs

• Lumbar

• Characterized by curved articular facets

Sternum:

• “Breastbone”

• Anterior portion of rib cage

• Articulates with ribs and clavicles

The Rib Cage:

• 12 pairs of ribs – numbered

superiorly to inferiorly

• Articulations

• Anteriorly – sternum

• Posteriorly – vertebrae

Sternal end:

part of rib that articulates with sternum

Sacrum:

• Inferior end of spine

• Posterior portion of pelvic girdle

Upper limb:

Bones of the upper limb:

• Clavicle

• Scapula

• Humerus

• Ulna

• Radius

• Hand

• Carpals (8)

• Metacarpals (5)

• Phalanges (14

Clavicle:

• “Collarbone”

• Connects upper limb to axial skeleton

Medial (or Sternal) End:

articulates with the sternum at the manubrium

Scapula:

• “Shoulder blade”

• Posterior portion of shoulder

Upper limb long bones:

• Arm:

• Humerus

• Forearm

• Ulna (medial)

• Radius (lateral)

Diaphysis (or shaft):

main axial portion of long bone

Epiphysis:

proximal and distal ends of long bone

Hands:

• Carpals (wrist bones) – 8

• Metacarpals (bones in palm) – 5

• Phalanges (finger bones; singular

= phalanx) – 14

• Proximal phalanges (5)

• Intermediate phalanges (4)

• Distal phalanges (5)

Bones of the lower limb:

• Os Coxae

• Femur

• Patella

• Tibia

• Fibula

• Foot

• Tarsals (7)

• Metatarsals (5)

• Phalanges (14)

Os Coxae:

• “Hip bone”

• Os coxae (pl. = ossa coxae)

• Or innominate (innominates)

• Lateral and anterior pelvic

girdle

• Proximal lower limb

-3 bones – fused together by late teens

• Ilium – blade of bone

• Ischium – posterior and inferior part we sit on

• Pubis – anterior part of bone

Auricular surface:

medial, “ear- shaped” surface that is the articulation between the os coxae and sacrum

Greater Sciatic Notch:

The wide notch just inferior to the posterior inferior iliac spine; pathway for the piriformis muscle

Pubic Symphysis:

where the two pubic bones articulate