Anthro Exam 2 - Non - Human Remains

Non - Human Remains

How to know if a Material is ORGANIC (Is it bone?)

Many organic materials that are mistaken for bone will BEND when they get wet while wet bones do not bend.

What is happens when an organic fraction gets wet? (Is it bone?)

Bends

What happens when an inorganic fracture gets wet? (Is it bone?)

Holds the shape together

What percentage of Non - Human Bones are in Forensic cases? (Non - Human Bones)

25 - 30%

What do you do when you find bones? (Non - Human Bones)

• Record

• Photograph

• Describe

Before moving or collecting, CALL AUTHORITIES!!

• Comparative collection is critical. (what coyotes, bears, raccoons, etc. bones look like)

What is the Epiphysis in the Long Bone? (Size & Fusion)

Growth Plate

• Grows as you get bigger and connects bone

• Rounded end of the long bone

What is the Diaphysis in the Long Bone? (Size & Fusion)

Shaft of the Long Bone

• Provides its core length, structural strength, and weight bearing support

• Growth in length (Longitudinal)

• Growth in thickness/diameter (Appositional)

Complete fusion - Ages 14 - 19 for females, Ages 17 - 21 for males

What is the Metaphysis of the Long Bone? (Size & Fusion)

Where the growth plate is where you’re actively growing (where the growth plate grows)

• cannot always use absolute size

• the flared, transition zone of a long bone located between the narrow shaft and the rounded end

• its size, structural changes, and eventual fusion are the primary determinants of human height and skeletal maturity

What are the TWO key indicators used to evaluate skeletal maturity and determine bone age?

Epiphysis + Metaphysis

What is the Growth Plate? (Size & Fusion)

Epiphyseal Plate

• A thin layer of specialized cartilage located near the ends of long bones in children and adolescents that drives longitudinal bone growth (elongation) through a process called endocholdral ossification

Grows bones, helps connect nerves!!

What does the Growth Plate do? (Size & Fusion)

Grows bones, helps connect nerves

What is the timeline of Size & Fusion? (Size & Fusion)

A) Birth

• Diaphysis

• Proximal Epiphysis

B) 5 years

• Greater Tubercle fuses to head at 2 - 4 years old

C) 10 years

• Growth of the bone (Diaphysis, Epiphysis, Trochlea, Head, Medial Epicondyles

D) 15 years

• Trochlea fuses to lower shaft (Diaphysis): males aged 14 - 16, females aged 13 - 15

• Medial Epicondyle fuses: males aged 16 - 18, females aged 15 - 17

E) 16+ years

• Head (Epiphysis) fuses to shaft (Diaphysis): males aged 16 - 18, females aged 15 - 17

What is (Shape & Robusticity)?

• Tells what type of bone it can be (skinny or chunky)

• Why are bones shaped differently

  • related to locomotion (the way we move) and body weight

How to tell Shape (Shape & Robusticity)

The size of the places where muscles attach and the overall chunkiness of the bone

How to tell Robusticity (Shape & Robusticity)

How chunky a bone is

Are human bones thicker than dog bones? (Size & Robusticity)

No

What bones do Humans NOT have (Bones)

• Baculum (Penis Bone)

• Caudal Vertebrae (Extended tail bone)

• Fercula (Wishbone)

• Foracoid (Chest Bone)

• Metapodial (Fused toe/finger bones)

• Unfused eye orbits

What are some USUAL SUSPECTS (telling the difference between human & non - human) (Bones)

• Human Hand vs Bear Paw

• Human Cranial Fragments vs Turtle Shell

• Human Teeth vs Pig Teeth

What is NOT considered a good practice in a forensic anthro lab? (Lab Process & Documentation)

Sharp metal tools are regularly used to remove flesh from bones.

A skeleton is transferred from the Medical Examiner’s Office to the Human Identification Lab. During trial preparation, the defense attorney (lawyer) argues that multiple individuals handled the remains before analysis but their names were not recorded on the case file.

Which lab failure would most directly weaken the admissibility (whether the court includes the evidence) of the evidence? (Lab Process & Documentation - Chain of Custody)

Failure to maintain a documented chain of custody.

A new lab assistant uses metal forceps and household bleach to speed up cleaning of partially decomposed remains. Later, fine linear (line-like) marks are observed on the surface of several bones.

What is the most likely problem created by this approach? (Lab Process & Documentation - Maceration)

The metal tools and bleach may introduce a artificial damage and chemical articulation.

What factors cause variations in bones and teeth that allow us to distinguish between human and non-human remains? (Non - Human Remains)

• Locomotion (the way an animal walks/moves

• Diet (the kinds of food an animal eats)

• Body Weight

Which of the following skeletal elements would immediately indicate that remains are non-human? (Non - Human Remains)

• Unfused Eye orbits

• Presence of a baculum

• Presence of Caudal Vertebrae

• Presence of a Fercula (Wishbone)

• Presence of a Foracoid (Chest Bone)

• Presence of a Metapodial (Fused toe/finger bones)

Size, shape, and muscle markings on the skeleton can help forensic anthropologists distinguish human from non-human bones. (Non - Human Remains - Size & Fusion)

True

Which of the following animal bones is NOT often mistaken for a human bone? (Non - Human Remains - The Usual Suspects)

Cow Femur