Forensics Chapter 13 & 14

Entomology and Human Remains

Taxonomy

Classfication of things in an orderly way

Forensic Entomology

* Study of Insects
* Involves the use of insects and other arthopods to aid in legal investigations

Metamorphosis

Egg → Larva (maggot) → Pupa → Winged Adult

Instar

Developmental stage of anthropoids

(Three Stages of Larva)

Temperature

The higher ____ the faster the growth

Fly species can vary geographically according to what

Habitat (climate, season)

By collecting and studying the types of insects found on a body and their metamorphic stage, you can estimate what

Time of Death

What insect comes first?

Flies

What insect comes second?

Beetles

What is the order of FLIES after death?

Blow flies → Flesh flies → House flies

What is the order of BEETLES after death?

Rove beetles → Sexton beetles → Clown beetles → Dermestid → Hide beetles

Where to female flies lay eggs?

Body openings and wounds

Mites

tiny 8-legged creatures belonging to the order, related to spiders and ticks

After insects infest, the body reduces how much?

10%

Degree Day

Unit of measuring of the energy absrobed by a biological system causing growth

Taken from agriculture who used it to predict certain stages in growth cycle of plants

Molt

Shredding of an insects outer skeleton during a growth stage

Ambient

Concerning surrounding areas/environments

Carl Linneus

Founder of Taxonomy

Charles Darwin

Helped improve taxonomy

Forensic Anthropology

scentific study of human remainsWh

Osteology

Study of Bones

How many bones are in the ADULT human

206

What are some functions of bones?

* Provide structure/rigidity
* Protect soft tissues/organs
* Attachment for muscles
* Produce blood cells
* Storage area for minerals
* Detoxify the body by removing

How can you estimate the height of a human body?

By measuring the long bones

MALE age for complete closer of 3 major sutures

over 35

FEMALE age for complete closer of 3 major sutures

over 50

Diaphysis

makes up most of the bone’s length in long bones

Epiphyses

allows for growth; found at the end of long bones; good places to look for changes in estimating age

4 stages of epiphyses

1. no epiphyses
2. no union , epiphyses and bones are seperate
3. partial union , epiphyses attached, line is visible
4. complete union , epiphyses attached, line in not visible

What bones are best for determining sex?

Pelvis and skull

Female Pelvis’ have a ___

wider pubic body, wider subpubic concavity, or angle have a ventral arc present.

Male Ribcages and Shoulders are generally ___

wider and larger.

What is mostly used for race determination

Skull

Three types of race determination

Caucasoid, Negroid, and Mongoloid

Caucasoid

European, Middle Eastern, Indian descent

long, narrow, nasal aperture, triangular palate, oval orits, narrow zygomatic arches, narrow mandibles

Negroid

rounded chin, wider nasal aperture, teeth roots grow into head

Mongoloid

sqaure like chin, round nose

Odontology

study of teeth

What is used for odontology?

Dental records, number and types of fillings, spacing of teeth

Teeth are used because ___

hardest substances in the body, unique to each individual, x-rays are a great record of people’s teeth, and last to decay

Algor mortis

Cooling of body temperature after death

Livor mortis

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

Rigor mortis

A stiffness in the muscles that occurs shortly after death

Glastier Equation

formula used for determining the approx. time period since death based on body temp

Autolysis

A process by which biological cells self-desctructs

Putrefaction

The decomposition of animal proteins, especially by anaerobic microorganisms

Adipocere

Isoluable fatty acids left as residue from pre-existing fats from decomposing cadavers

formed by the slow hydrolysis of fats in the wet ground and can occur in both embalmed and untreated bodies

Osteons

Structures in bones that carry the blood supply away

What five things can a forensic anthropologist determine form a whole bone or part of a bone?

Age, gender, race, height, cranial sutures, ancestry?

What four body parts can be used to determine age?

Teeth, epiphyses/growth plates, cranial sutures, pubic symphysis (pelvis)

What 7 features of a skull can determine that it is a male?

Larger mandible

Longer face

Nose bone is longer

Forehead is sloped

Square chin

Thicker

What 6 features of a skull can determine that it is female?

Smaller mandible

Shorter face

Smaller nose bone

Forehead is verticle

Pointier chin

Thinner

Name three body features that may help to determine race.

Chin, Nasal structure, palate

What is the order of stiffness? and unstiffness?

1. Face muscles
2. Larger muscles

If the temperature of a body is still warm to the touch and the body is stiff how long has the person been dead?

Between 3-8 hours earlier

If the temperature of a body is cold to the touch and the body is not stiff how long has the person been dead?

Between 8-36 hours earlier

What six factors can affect algor mortis?

The environment, type of clothing on the body, wetness of clothing, sir movement, and layers of clothing

What are the functions of the skeleton?

help to give shape, movement, and protects organs

What are the functions of the cranial sutures?

They come together and unite along special seperated and interlocking joints

How may a forensic anthropologist reconstruct a face on a skull?

Establish age, sex and race

Plot landmarks for tissues, insertion points for muscles and facial features

Mount the eyes and model muscles

Add eyes, ears, nose etc.

Cover with skin and detail

Difference between cause of death and manner of death

Cause is how (bullet, stab, overdose)

Manner is what (homocide, suicide, natural, accidental, and determined)