Forensic Anthropology: Skeletal Deviations and Identification Techniques

What is the significance of deviations in skeletons?

Deviations play an important role in the positive identification of individuals

- may be documented in medical records

- can be remembered by friends

- appear on xrays

What can cause confusion between perimortem trauma with skeletal deviations?

Nonfusion can appear as a fracture, and pathology can be interpreted as trauma or taphonomic change ex. roots looking like cut marks

Pathological Conditions : Skeletal Anomalies

Accessory ossicles (extra bones)

Non Fusion Anomalies (unfused bones)

Accessory Foramina (extra holes)

What are lytic lesions?

Abnormal loss of bone

What are proliferative lesions?

Excess bone being deposited - most common on vertebral bodies (osteophytes)

What is a deformative lesion?

Abnormal contours or shapes of bones, such as those caused by rickets or scurvy.

- most common form results from anemia (in an attempt to increase red blood cell production the diploe of the skull expands->pushes through outer table of cranial vault)

Deformative Lesions : Porotic Hyperostosis

A condition resulting from anemia, causing the diploe of the skull to expand and form pores on the skull surface

Deformative Lesions : Necrosis

Localized bone death due to reduced blood flow ex. Schmorls nodes (missing bone in vertebrae

Skeletal Anomalies : accessory ossicles

Extra bones in the skull that primarily occur along suture lines

- can be mistaken for blunt force trauma or gun shot trauma

Pay attention to irregular outline, stopping at suture lines, no radiating fractures

What is the most common accessory ossicle

Wormian bones, found at the lambda point at the back of the head.

What distinguishes nonfusion anomalies from trauma?

Presence of cortical bone on what appears to be a broken surface

Non Fusion Anomalies : spondylosis

where there is a separation of the neural arch from the body of the vertebrae

Non Fusion Anomalies : spina bifida

the sacrum is open between the right and left halves where the neural arch would be

What are accessory foramina?

Extra openings in bones that can be mistaken for puncture wounds

Types of occupational stress markers

Facets

Hypertrophies

Lytic lesions

What is osteophytosis?

Additional bone growth that occurs due to occupational stress

What constitutes a positive identification in forensic analysis?

Matching anomalies from radiography and using features like frontal sinuses and trabecular bone structure

What is the difference between positive and probable identification?

Probable identification gives a vague idea of a similar biological profile, while positive identification is definitive

What is the role of forensic odontology in identification?

It helps in matching dental records and features for positive identification.

What can be mistaken for blunt force trauma in skeletal analysis?

Accessory ossicles due to their irregular outline and lack of fracture lines.

What are the common causes of deformative lesions?

Conditions such as vitamin D deficiency leading to rickets or osteomalacia.

What are the characteristics of lytic lesions?

Regions of abnormal bone loss, often associated with muscle attachment areas.

Deformative Lesions : Abscesses

infection - pus erodes the bone around it

- can occur in any bone not just dentition

Proliferative Lesions : Generalized bone disease

Striations on smooth cortical surface - can be caused by irritation to the periosteum

Proliferative Lesions : Button Osteoma

Found in older individuals - is malignent

Non Fusion Anomalies

Results from nonfusion of the ossification center

Occupational Stress Markers

Enlarged areas of muscle attachment - happens because muscles need more area to attach to

Using individuation to make a positive identification

Matching up anomalies from radiography

Frontal sinuses - great method of ID

Structure of trabecular bone or cranial pattern

Odontology

DNA