Skeletal Analysis and Trauma

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to skeletal analysis and trauma as discussed in the lecture.

Antemortem Trauma

Trauma that occurs before death, indicated by healing or surgical appliances, and can suggest abuse.

Perimortem Trauma

Trauma occurring at or around the time of death, which can provide critical information about the cause and manner of death.

Postmortem Trauma

Trauma that happens after death, typically due to environmental damage or scavenging, and is usually excluded from investigations of the cause of death.

Blunt Force Trauma

Injury caused by impact with a blunt object, often resulting in fractures and other bone damage that needs careful analysis to ascertain cause.

Sharp Force Trauma

Injuries produced by sharp objects, categorized into stab wounds, incised wounds, and chop wounds based on the action and characteristics.

Ballistic Trauma

Injuries resulting from high-velocity projectiles, such as bullets, which cause unique fragmentation and can provide evidence of the direction of fire.

Kerf

The wall and floor of a cut mark that can give clues about the type of instrument used in a sharp force injury.

Dismemberment

The act of cutting off limbs or body parts, often associated with attempts to obscure identification or facilitate transportation.

Fracture Mechanics

The study of how fractures occur and propagate in bones under various forces and conditions.

Anisotropic

A property of bone indicating that its strength varies based on the direction of applied loads.