Entomology & Anthropology

Taxonomy

The science of classifying organisms

Phylum

Group of closely related classes

Class (taxonomy)

in classification, a group of closely related orders

Arthropoda

insects

entomology

study of insects

PMI

Post Mortem Interval

necrophagous

feeding on carrion

carrion

the decaying flesh of dead animals

Autolysis

the spontaneous breakdown of cells as they self-digest (0-4days)

putrefaction

Decomposition of body tissues. (4-10 days)

black putrefaction

Very strong odor. Parts of the flesh appear black. Gases escape and the corpse collapses. (20-50 days)

Butyric fermentation

Cadaver drying out. Some flesh remains at first; cheesy odor from butyric acid (20-50 days).

Dry decay (diagenesis)

Cadaver almost dry; slow rate of decay. May mummify (50-365 days).

insect life cycle

egg, larva, pupa, adult

Instar

stage between molts

What did Joe Keiper use to determine the age of the bodies

By looking at the bugs eating away at the bodies. Blowflies are reliable for the first 25 days, but the beetles eating away indicated up to three years.

Variables affecting metamorphosis

Temperature and habitat

degree day

a unit of measure of the energy absorbed by a biological system, causing growth

Diptera

They lay eggs that hatch to maggots and are the first to arrive. Other bugs eat the maggots/

Coleoptera

In rough order of appearance, from within hours to dry decay

How did Dr. Greenburg use entomology ?

He surmised that the larvae in the picture were fresh and common to urban Chicago. He then gathered information on that day's environment and the bug's life cycle. Determining that the death occurred within 21 1/2 days of the shooting.

Algor Mortis

The cooling of the body after death

Forensic Anthropology

the study of human remains applied to a legal context

Osteology

Study of bones

How many bones are in the body?

206

Bone functions

structure, produce blook cells, hold minerals, and dexoify the body

genus

A group of similar species

species

A group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.

family

Group of genera that share many characteristics

order

Group of similar families

kingdom

First and largest category used to classify organisms

livor mortis

The pooling of the blood in tissues after death resulting in a reddish color to the skin

rigor mortis

stiffness of the body that sets in several hours after death

osteons

Cylindrical structures that comprise compact bone

Os pubis/ Pubis

area on the anterior side of the pelvis where the hip bones come together.

Ventral Arc

a bony ridge that is formed on the ventral (lower) side of the female os pubis.

epiphysis

End of a long bone

Odontology

study of teeth

Caucasoid

European, Middle Eastern, and Indian descent

Negroid

African, Aborigine, and Melanesian descent

Mongoloid

Asian, Native American, and Polynesian descent

Femur

Tibia

humerus

Radius

The bone in the forearm that extends from the elbow to the wrist, usually located on the thumb side.

Sagittal suture completely closed

M: 26 or older, F: 29 or older

Sagittal suture completely open

M: less than 32, F: less than 35

Complete closure of all three major structures

M: over 35, F: over 50

Stage 1

no epiphysis

Stage 2

non-union

Stage 3

partial union

Stage 4

complete union

Male or female?

Male

Male or Female Bones

Female