Anthro Exam 2 (ALL TOGETHER)

What is Chain of Custody?

Movement/Location of physical evidence from time obtained until presented in court.

What does Chain of Custody do?

1. Inventory all materials

2. Log of all people who handled the evidence

3. Medical Examiners Office/Police Department takes initial custody

4. Release of Human ID Lab

5. Return to Medical Examiners Office

What happens after the arrival to the MEO? (Chain of Custody)

A) Initial Documentation of condition

1. Paperwork

2. Photographs

3. Box outside and in

B) Assign a distinctive case number

What are the three types of Documentation for each case?

1. Case logs

2. Processing Logs

3. Case Files

What do Case Logs document? (Documentation)

1. Case #

2. Type of remains (Skeleton, Cranium, Non - Human, etc.)

3. Tentative ID

4. Suspected trauma

5. Place/Agency of origin

What are Processing Logs (Documentation)

• Indicate which procedures are needed for a specific case

• Keeps track of who did what and when

What are Case Files? (Documentation)

Master record of each case.

What are the requirements for a Forensic Lab?

• Security

• Storage

• Biohazard Protocols

• Training

• Quality Assurance (QA)

• Quality Control (QC)

What is the Evidence & Lab Access?

• Human remains need to be inaccessible to the public

• Authorized access only

• Secured at ALL times

What is the definition of Maceration? (Maceration)

The process of removing soft tissue form decomposing or mummified remains.

• Yields - clean, dry skeleton

What are the TOOLS of Maceration (Maceration)

Plastic tools prevent introduction of additional damage (eg. cut marks) to the bones.

• Toothbrushes

• Nylon spatulas

• Hemostat Forceps used to pull any clumps of tissue

• Scissors and scalps used only rarely!!!

What is the PROCESS of Maceration? (Maceration)

1. Remove bulk of soft tissue

2. Disarticulate (separate) sections of the body

3. Remains placed in stainless steel pots, FILLED WITH WATER ONLY!!

4. Heat to boiling, then reduce to below 100 degrees CELSIUS

5. Water should be decanted or changed regularly

• 2 - 3 DAYS TOTAL TIME!!

How long does the PROCESS of Maceration take? (Maceration)

2 - 3 days total time

What is Maceration? (Maceration)

• Soft tissue removed with plastic tools and forceps

• Scrub with dilute (oil) citrus - based degreaser and rinse with clean water

• Soft tissues collected and recorded

• Freeze for storage

What is the DRYING PROCESS for Maceration? (Maceration)

• Grid inlay allows airflow around the bones

• Bones can be handled with or without gloves

• Drying time = 3 - 7 days total time

How long does the DRYING PROCESS take? (Maceration)

3 - 7 days total time

Can bones be handled without gloves during the drying process? (Maceration)

Yes

What do Dermestid Beetles do? (Maceration)

Remove soft tissues

• Consume soft tissues including cartilage and tendons

• 10 - 14 days total time

How long does it take for Dermestid Beetles to finish consuming soft tissues? + cartilage & tendons (Maceration)

10 - 14 days total time

What is Documentation & Analysis?

• All observation/analysis notes

• Inventory

• Analyze print outs

• X - rays and Photos

• Reference articles

What is Skeletal Inventory? (Documentation & Analysis)

Ensures that skeletal elements do not obscure each other

• Records whether or not each skeleton elements are present or absent (how complete the skeleton is)

• Set up in Anatomical Position (Facing forward, Palms facing out and forward)

What is the Photography Process for in (Documentation & Analysis)

• Views of the skull

• Age & Sex

• Trauma

• Pathology

• General & close up

What is the Report for in (Documentation & Analysis)

How remains are received, conditions of remains, time since death.

• MNI (minimum number of individual(s))

• Biological Profile

• Individualizing characteristics

• Trauma - ante, peri, post

Thorough and accurate

• Writing skills

How to know if a Material is ORGANIC (Is it bone?)

Many organic materials that are mistaken for bone will BEND when they get wet while wet bones do not bend.

What is happens when an organic fraction gets wet? (Is it bone?)

Bends

What happens when an inorganic fracture gets wet? (Is it bone?)

Holds the shape together

What percentage of Non - Human Bones are in Forensic cases? (Non - Human Bones)

25 - 30%

What do you do when you find bones? (Non - Human Bones)

• Record

• Photograph

• Describe

Before moving or collecting, CALL AUTHORITIES!!

• Comparative collection is critical. (what coyotes, bears, raccoons, etc. bones look like)

What is the Epiphysis in the Long Bone? (Size & Fusion)

Growth Plate

• Grows as you get bigger and connects bone

• Rounded end of the long bone

What is the Diaphysis in the Long Bone? (Size & Fusion)

Shaft of the Long Bone

• Provides its core length, structural strength, and weight bearing support

• Growth in length (Longitudinal)

• Growth in thickness/diameter (Appositional)

Complete fusion - Ages 14 - 19 for females, Ages 17 - 21 for males

What is the Metaphysis of the Long Bone? (Size & Fusion)

Where the growth plate is where you’re actively growing (where the growth plate grows)

• cannot always use absolute size

• the flared, transition zone of a long bone located between the narrow shaft and the rounded end

• its size, structural changes, and eventual fusion are the primary determinants of human height and skeletal maturity

What are the TWO key indicators used to evaluate skeletal maturity and determine bone age?

Epiphysis + Metaphysis

What is the Growth Plate? (Size & Fusion)

Epiphyseal Plate

• A thin layer of specialized cartilage located near the ends of long bones in children and adolescents that drives longitudinal bone growth (elongation) through a process called endocholdral ossification

Grows bones, helps connect nerves!!

What does the Growth Plate do? (Size & Fusion)

Grows bones, helps connect nerves

What is the timeline of Size & Fusion? (Size & Fusion)

A) Birth

• Diaphysis

• Proximal Epiphysis

B) 5 years

• Greater Tubercle fuses to head at 2 - 4 years old

C) 10 years

• Growth of the bone (Diaphysis, Epiphysis, Trochlea, Head, Medial Epicondyles

D) 15 years

• Trochlea fuses to lower shaft (Diaphysis): males aged 14 - 16, females aged 13 - 15

• Medial Epicondyle fuses: males aged 16 - 18, females aged 15 - 17

E) 16+ years

• Head (Epiphysis) fuses to shaft (Diaphysis): males aged 16 - 18, females aged 15 - 17

What is (Shape & Robusticity)?

• Tells what type of bone it can be (skinny or chunky)

• Why are bones shaped differently

  • related to locomotion (the way we move) and body weight

How to tell Shape (Shape & Robusticity)

The size of the places where muscles attach and the overall chunkiness of the bone

How to tell Robusticity (Shape & Robusticity)

How chunky a bone is

Are human bones thicker than dog bones? (Size & Robusticity)

No

What bones do Humans NOT have (Bones)

• Baculum (Penis Bone)

• Caudal Vertebrae (Extended tail bone)

• Fercula (Wishbone)

• Foracoid (Chest Bone)

• Metapodial (Fused toe/finger bones)

• Unfused eye orbits

What are some USUAL SUSPECTS (telling the difference between human & non - human) (Bones)

• Human Hand vs Bear Paw

• Human Cranial Fragments vs Turtle Shell

• Human Teeth vs Pig Teeth

What is NOT considered a good practice in a forensic anthro lab? (Lab Process & Documentation)

Sharp metal tools are regularly used to remove flesh from bones.

A skeleton is transferred from the Medical Examiner’s Office to the Human Identification Lab. During trial preparation, the defense attorney (lawyer) argues that multiple individuals handled the remains before analysis but their names were not recorded on the case file.

Which lab failure would most directly weaken the admissibility (whether the court includes the evidence) of the evidence? (Lab Process & Documentation - Chain of Custody)

Failure to maintain a documented chain of custody.

A new lab assistant uses metal forceps and household bleach to speed up cleaning of partially decomposed remains. Later, fine linear (line-like) marks are observed on the surface of several bones.

What is the most likely problem created by this approach? (Lab Process & Documentation - Maceration)

The metal tools and bleach may introduce a artificial damage and chemical articulation.

What factors cause variations in bones and teeth that allow us to distinguish between human and non-human remains? (Non - Human Remains)

• Locomotion (the way an animal walks/moves

• Diet (the kinds of food an animal eats)

• Body Weight

Which of the following skeletal elements would immediately indicate that remains are non-human? (Non - Human Remains)

• Unfused Eye orbits

• Presence of a baculum

• Presence of Caudal Vertebrae

• Presence of a Fercula (Wishbone)

• Presence of a Foracoid (Chest Bone)

• Presence of a Metapodial (Fused toe/finger bones)

Size, shape, and muscle markings on the skeleton can help forensic anthropologists distinguish human from non-human bones. (Non - Human Remains - Size & Fusion)

True

Which of the following animal bones is NOT often mistaken for a human bone? (Non - Human Remains - The Usual Suspects)

Cow Femur

What are the standardized terms of (Human Osteology)?

• Anatomical Position

• L and R to the skeletons L and R (NOT THE OBSERVERS L AND R!!)

• (Left and right)

In Anatomical Position, The Thumb is Lateral to the Pinky. (Anatomical Position)

True

In Anatomical Position, The Pinky is Medial to the Thumb. (Anatomical Position)

True

What are the three planes of the Human Body? (Planes)

• Sagittal

• Transverse

• Coronal

What is the Sagittal Plane? (Planes)

Cuts the body through the Midline (Y - Axis) - Lateral & Medial

What is the Transverse Plane? (Planes)

Cuts the body horizontally (X - Axis) - Superior & Inferior

What is the Coronal Plane? (Planes)

Sections the body to front and back halves - Anterior & Posterior

What does Medial mean? (Sagittal Plane)

Toward the midline of the body

What does Lateral mean? (Sagittal Plane)

Away from the midline of the body

What does Superior mean? (Transverse Plane)

Top upper half of the body (higher up)

What does Inferior mean? (Transverse Plane)

Bottom lower half of the body (lower below)

What does Anterior mean? (Coronal Plane)

Ventral - Front half

What does Posterior mean? (Coronal Plane)

Dorsal - Back half

What does Proximal mean? (Trunk of the body/Mostly Thoracic Vertebrae)

Closer to the trunk of the body

What does Distal mean? (Trunk of the body/Mostly Thoracic Vertebrae)

Further from the trunk of the body

What are the portions of the skeleton? (Human Osteology)

Cranial Skeleton - Bones in the skull (including mandible)(excluding teeth)

Post Cranial - Everything else below the skull (NOT including the mandible)

What does the Axial Skeleton consist of? (Axial Skeleton vs Appendicular Skeleton)

• Skull

• Ribs

• Sternum (Chest Plate)

• Vertebrae

• Sacrum

What does the Appendicular Skeleton consist of? (Axial Skeleton vs Appendicular Skeleton)

Limbs (Arms & Legs)

What are your Libial Teeth? (Teeth)

First Three Teeth

What are your Buccal Teeth? (Teeth)

Last Five Teeth

Is your canine mesial to the molars? (Teeth)

Yes

Is your canine distal to your incisors? (Teeth)

Yes

What does Mesial mean? (Teeth)

Teeth closer to the Midline

What does Distal mean (Teeth)

Teeth away/further to the Midline

When people smile you see the Buccal side of their teeth. (Teeth)

True

What does INTERPROXIMAL mean? (Dental Terms)

The surface of where two teeth are in contact.

You floss with the interproximal part of your teeth. (Dental Terms)

True

What does Occlusal mean? (Dental Terms)

Chewing surface

What are Deciduous Teeth? (Dental Terms)

Children Teeth

What are Permanent Teeth? (Dental Terms)

Adult Teeth

What does Dental Formula mean? (Dental Terms)

Number (#) of teeth/tooth is each tooth type in a quadrant (4 quadrants)

What is the Permanent Teeth Dental Formula? (Dental Terms)

2:1:2:3 - 32 teeth

What is the Deciduous Teeth Dental Formula? (Dental Terms)

2:1:0:2 - 20 teeth

How can you calculate Dentition for Deciduous? (Dental Terms)

Ex. Dental Formula 2:1:0:2 (Deciduous Teeth)

• 2 incisors

• 1 canine

• 0 premolars

• 2 molars

Premolars: 0 × 4 = 0

Molars: 2 × 4 = 8

Answer: 0:8

How can you calculate Dentition for 2:1:3:3 (Old World Monkeys) (Dental Terms)

2:1:3:3

2+1+3+3 = 9

Multiply 9 by the 4 quadrants

9 × 4 = 36

Answer - 3:36

What does the Long Bone Structure consist of? (Long Bone Structure)

• Proximal Epiphysis

• Proximal Metaphysis

• Diaphysis

• Distal Metaphysis

• Distal Epiphysis

What does the Proximal/Distal Epiphysis consist of? (Long Bone Structure)

Articular Cartilage

What does the Metaphysis consist of? (Long Bone Structure)

Spongy Bone (contains red bone marrow) - nutrition, water, air

Contains Growth Plate

What does the Diaphysis consist of? (Long Bone Structure)

Shaft

• Medullary cavity (marrow contains yellow marrow

• Endosteum

• Compact Bone

• Periosteum

• Nutrient artery in nutrient foramen

What is Bone made up of? (Bone)

• 1/5 (20%) water

• 1/3 (35%) organic collagen

• ½ (45%) inorganic (hydroxyapatite)

What are the different Bone Types? (Bone)

• Cortical Bone: Compact

• Trabecular bone: Cancellous (Spongey Bone)

What is the Cortical Bone? (Bone Types)

Compact

What is the Trabecular Bone? (Bone types)

Cancellous (Spongey Bone)

What are the different Bone Cells? (Bone Cells)

• Osteoblasts - grows (makes new bones)

• Osteoclasts - absorbs (cleans bones)

Do Osteoblasts grow or absorb? (Bone Cells)

Grows (makes new bones)

Do Osteoclasts grow or absorb? (Bone Cells)

Absorbs (Cleans Bones)

Immature Bone vs Mature Bone (Bone Maturity)

Immature Bone: Bone that is being remodeled (Healing Bone)

Mature Bone: Refined & Healed

What is an Immature Bone? (Bone Maturity)

Bone that is being remodeled (Healing Bone)

What is a Mature Bone? (Bone Maturity)

Refined & Healed

What bones does the skull have? (The Skull)

Cranial Bones (8) - The Cranium encloses & protects the brain

1. Frontal Bone (1)

2. Pariental Bones (2)

3. Temporal Bones (2)

4. Occipital Bone (1)

5. Sphenoid Bone (1)

6. Ethmoid Bone (1)

What are the Facial Bones (14)? (The Skull)

These bones shape the face and form entryways for the respiratory and digestive tracts.

• Maxillae (2)

• Zygomatic Bones (2)

• Nasal Bones (2)

• Lacrimal Bones (2)

• Palatine Bones (2)

• Inferior Nasal Conchae (2)

• Vomer (1)

• Mandible (1)

What are the Structures of (The Skull)?

• Sutures - Boundaries where cranial bones (4 different kinds) fuse together (keep bones stronger; difficult to pull apart)

• Sinuses - Interior spaces created within bones during growth