human remains and forensic anthropology

algor mortis

the cooling of body temperature after death

liver mortis

A purple or red discoloration of the skin caused by the pooling of blood after death

rigor mortis

A stiffness in the muscles that occurs shortly after death

body farms

Research facilities where students can study the decay of human remains in various settings

How long is data collected at a body farm?

6 to 12 months

Within how many minutes after death does decomposition begin?

4 minutes

autolysis

a process by which a biological cell self-destructs

what happens during the autolysis?

• carbon dioxide levels increase, pH decreases, waste accumulates

• the cells are poisoned

putrefaction

a greenish cast to the skin and gasses being released in the process cause the body to bloat

what is the decomposition of animal proteins?

putrefaction

during what process does the body start to smell?

putrefaction

adipocere

A yellow-white, greasy, wax-like substance that results from the breakdown of fatty acids

during what stage of decomposition does the body is in moist alkaline soil, has high body fat and the casket is in a burial vault?

adipocere

when does the process of adipocere take place?

months to years after death

diagenesis

The process of chemical and physical change in deposited sediment during its conversion into rock

when does diagenesis happen?

50 to 365 days after death

what is forensic anthropology?

A field of forensic science that applies physical anthropology principles and techniques to the legal process

Animal bones have __________ osteons.

regular structured

human bones have ____________ osteons.

more chaotically arranged

during what year did forensic anthropology start?

1930s

what is the largest forensic anthropology and skeletal identification lab in the world?

central identification lab

what is the primary tool of a forensic anthropologist?

the biological profile

• sex, age, trauma, ancestry, stature

what can bones be used to determine?

biological age and inform about injuries obtained

DNA analysis can be used to confirm the _________

identity

during what wars did forensic anthropology begin?

World War II and the Korean War

time of death is best described when?

24 hours after death

true or false: different parts of the body die at different rates

true