Forensic Anthropology Practice Flashcards

These flashcards cover the core concepts of forensic anthropology, including skeletal analysis, biological profiling, trauma assessment, taphonomy, and ethical practices.

How is forensic anthropology defined within the field of anthropology?

It is a subfield of biological anthropology and an applied area where practitioners use skeletal analysis to provide information about humans in the present or recent past within a medicolegal context.

According to the transcript, what is the typical timeframe for individuals analyzed by forensic anthropologists?

They typically analyze recently deceased individuals who have died within the last $50$ years.

What are the seven steps or questions involved in the process of skeletal analysis in the United States?

1. Is it bone? 2. Is it human? 3. Is it modern or archaeological? 4. How many individuals are present (MNI)? 5. Who is it? 6. Is there evidence of trauma before or around the time of death? 7. What happened to the remains after death?

What are the two distinct layers of dry bone most helpful for identification?

The outer layer called compact (cortical) bone and the inner layer called spongy (trabecular) bone.

How can the microstructure of bone be identified under magnification?

By observing osteons (bone cells) which are arranged in a concentric pattern around blood vessels.

How many bones are in the adult human skeleton?

$206$ bones.

What are the primary differences in bone density between human and nonhuman mammal long bones?

The compact layer in nonhuman mammal long bones is much thicker and heavier than human bone.

What does the term MNI stand for and what does it provide?

Minimum Number of Individuals; it provides the lowest possible count for the total number of individuals contributing to a skeletal assemblage.

What term is applied to a burial assemblage where individual skeletons are not separated?

Commingled.

What are the six components of a biological profile?

Biological sex, age at death, stature, population affinity, skeletal variation, and evidence of trauma and pathology.

Why is the estimation of sex often the first step in establishing a biological profile?

Because other estimations, such as age and stature, rely on an assessment of biological sex to make calculations more accurate.

What is the Phenice Method used to assess?

Morphological characteristics of the pelvis associated with sex, specifically the ventral arc, subpubic concavity, and the medial aspect of the ischiopubic ramus.

Why is assessing sex from a subadult (infant or child) skeleton considered unreliable?

Most indicators of biological sex are linked to reproductive characteristics and do not fully manifest in prepubescent individuals.

What is Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS) in a forensic context?

A combination of procedures that transform typically male facial features into more feminine forms, leaving permanent records on the human skeleton such as bone remodeling or surgical hardware.

What does the term 'population affinity' describe in the biological profile?

Genetic and environmentally driven variation seen among modern populations used to compare an unknown individual to multiple reference groups.

What anthropological computer tool is used to generate statistical predictions for geographic origin based on skeletal measurements?

Fordisc.

What are the two primary methods used for estimating the age-at-death for subadults?

Epiphyseal union (fusion of growth plates) and dental development (tooth formation and eruption patterns).

By what age does the patella (kneecap) typically begin to form?

Around $3$ to $4$ years of age.

How many deciduous (baby) teeth and permanent adult teeth are in the dental arcade?

$20$ deciduous teeth and $32$ adult teeth.

What is the Suchey-Brooks method used for?

It is the most common method for aging adult skeletons based on six phases of macroscopic changes to the surface of the pubic symphysis.

Which method for aging adults considers the shape and quality of the sternal ends of the ribs?

The method developed by M. Y. İşcan and colleagues.

What is the difference between biological height and reported stature?

Biological height is true anatomical height, while reported stature is typically self-reported and usually an approximation.

What are regression equations used for in stature estimation?

To examine the relationship between variables like height and bone length to create a prediction interval for estimated stature.

What is the difference between a positive identification and a presumptive identification?

Positive identification is a scientifically validated method (radiography, DNA, fingerprints), while presumptive identification is based on circumstances or scene context.

What are the four categories of trauma classified by mechanism?

Sharp force, blunt force, projectile, and thermal (burning).

In trauma analysis, what characterizes a projectile injury?

High-velocity trauma affecting a small surface area, often characterized by penetrating defects or embedded materials like bullets.

What are the three categories for the timing of a skeletal injury?

Antemortem (before death), perimortem (at or around the time of death), and postmortem (after death).

How is antemortem trauma identified on bone?

By signs of healing, such as a fracture callus or unification of fracture margins.

What defines the perimortem interval in skeletal analysis?

The period where bone is still fresh and displays a 'green bone response,' which can extend weeks or months past death depending on environmental preservation.

What is taphonomy in the context of biological anthropology?

The study of what happens to human remains after death, including decomposition and environmental processes.

What taphonomic process results in parallel grooves etched by incisors?

Rodent gnawing.

What is the purpose of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) of 1990?

To provide protection for and repatriation of Native American remains, cultural items, and sacred objects from Federal or tribal lands to lineal descendants or tribes.