Forensic anthropology final

ethics

branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct with respect to the rightness or wrongness of certain actions and motives

biological profile

demographic info (age, sex, ancestry, stature) used to inform searches through missing persons databases to aid in investigation

positive

parts of the bone that project above the bone surface

negative

depressed areas of the bone

foramen magnum

hole that allows spinal cord to connect to the brain

seasmoids

extra bones in a tendon

sutural bones

extra bones in joints of skull

components of bone

collagen and hydroxyapatite

compact/cortical bone

smooth dense bone on external surfaces, lining the interior surface of medullary cavity

medullary cavity

hollow space within long bones

spongy/trabecular bone

porous, inside bones, structural support

diaphysis

shaft of long bone, primary center of ossification

epiphysis

end of long bone, secondary centers of ossification, form proximal and distal joint surfaces

ossification

natural process of bone formation

osteoblasts and osteoclasts

maintenance of skeletal system

articulation

joint where two bones meet

synovial joints

most common type of joint, allow maximum movement, synovial fluid allows movement, easier to damage

cartilaginous joints

limited movement

fibrous joints

dense, fibrous connected tissue, significantly limits movement

osteology

study of bones

number of bones in an adult

206

anatomical position

standing facing forward, palms forward, thumbs laterally

cranial

head

postcranial

everything below head

axial skeleton

midline, core of body

appendicular skeleton

arms and legs

endocranial

inner surface of cranial vault

palmar

toward palm of hand

dorsal

toward back of hand

metaphysis

segment between diaphysis and epiphysis

periosteum

thin layer of fibrous tissue covering outer surface of bone

osteoblasts

bone cells building new bone tissue

osteoclasts

removing tissues/clear out old bone

osteocytes

living bone cells

occlusal

chewing surface, premolars and molars

incisal

biting surface, incisors and canines

interproximal

contact points between teeth

dental formation

2 incisors, 1 canine, 2 premolars, 3 molars

incisors

blade like, skinny, cut/bite, 8

canines

pointy, shred food, 4

premolars

shear, 8

molars

crush, grind, 12, wisdom teeth

3 questions to determine medicolegal significance

is the material skeletal or dental? is it human or nonhuman bone? if human, is it contemporary in age?

Is the material skeletal?

examination is usually sufficient, other materials may be confused with bone, elemental analysis, radiography, microscopic examination

is the bone human or nonhuman?

visual inspection, microscopic methods, consider size and shape, look for traits unique to human or nonhumans

homology/homologous traits

an organ or bone that appears in different animals, we share a similar skeletal structure and most mammals have the same bones

is the human skeletal material contemporary?

within past 50 years, based on observations and context of when it was found, personal effects, material culture (clothes, accessories), body modifications (surgery, embalming)

social age

the way society defines expected behaviors based on age in years

chronological age

how old one is in years

biological age

how old body appears to be, affected by rate of growth and development

crown

part of tooth visible in mouth

root

anchors tooth into alveolar bone (blood supply)

enamel

outer white part of teeth, cannot heal itself or sense pain

dentin

yellowish brown, living cells, senses pain

pulp chamber

where blood and nerve supply of tooth is maintained

apical foramen

small hole at end of root

dental eruption

emergence of teeth through the gum tissue into oral cavity

personal identification

process of restoring a name to unidentified human remains

tentative identifications

based on circumstantial evidence (ex. remains found with ID)

presumptive identification

based on multiple lines of evidence and absence of contradictory info

positive identification

medicolegal authority is satisfied that remains are identified correctly

antemortem skeletal changes

osseous anomalies, pathological changes to skeleton from disease/degeneration, healed trauma, medical interventions

osseous anomalies

morphological variations of the skeleton, extra bones

pathology

change from normal structure and function of an organ or tissue that affects functioning (ex. osteoarthritis, trauma, infections, genetic disorders)

healed trauma and medical interventions

medical records may help ID, implanted devices, surgery

namUs

matches unidentified decedents and missing persons

copis

stores DNA info

establishing a positive identification

visual recognition by someone who knew them, may use scars or tattoos, visual recognition by pictures are less accurate, antemortem and postmortem data are consistent enough, DNA, fingerprint

dental comparisons

use radiographs, teeth often survive decomposition and damage, antemortem dental radiographs are more common then medical radiographs, human dentition varies

frontal sinus morphology

unique to every individual, frontal sinuses develop around 4/5th fetal month, develops slowly with puberty and rapidly until age 20

craniofacial superimposition

comparison of structures of the skull to portrait of the deceased

facial approximation

anatomical method (reconstruction of individual muscles) or tissue depth method (replica of skull)

antemortem

signs of healing, new bone, smooth, pathological lesions, trauma injury

perimortem

no healing, beveling, trauma wounds, distinct entrance/exit wounds

postmortem

no healing, alterations

expert witness

someone giving scientific evidence in court

frye vs us

general acceptance criteria for scientific evidence in court

daubert v merrel dow

reinterpreted rule 702 to replace frye standard, judge is the ultimate gatekeeper

federal rules of evidence

set of rules to govern admissibility of expert witness testimony in federal trials, rule 702

rule 702

must have proper training and must use sufficient data and reliable methods