Trauma, Pathology, Modification, and Stature

Trauma

Any injury caused to bone tissue from outside force.

Pathology

Study of disease.

Modification

Intentional or unintentional alteration to the skeleton.

Stature

Calculation based upon long bone length.

Fracture

Any break in the bone.

Blunt force trauma

Injury caused by object with a blunt edge.

Sharp force trauma

Injury caused by an object with a sharp edge.

Osteoarthritis or Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD)

Breakdown of the joint areas between bones. Marked by uneven boney overgrowth.

Syphilis

Disease that eats away at the skull. Looks like lesions within the bone.

Osteomyelitis

An infection of the marrow cavity. Represented by large and irregular inflammation of the entire bone.

Cradle boarding

Process that occurs while the mother is carrying around an infant in a certain kind of carrier. It flattens out the occipital and back of parietals.

Head binding

Cultural practice where child's head is wrapped consistently. This leads to an elongation of the cranium.

Trephination

Determined through visible ancient surgery scars. Would have been called a "lobotomy."