Forensic Anthropology Unit 3 Exam Study Guide

Front 1

What six parts of the pelvic girdle are used for sexing?

Back 1

1. Sub-pubic angle
2. Pubis body width
3. Greater sciatic notch
4. Ventral Arch
5. Obturator foramen
6. Acetabulum

Front 2

What is the sub-pubic angle?

Back 2

The angle made by the inferior borders of the articulated pubis bone

Front 3

What is the pubis body width?

Back 3

The measurement from the midpoint of the pubic symphasis to the obturator foramen

Front 4

What is the ventral arch?

Back 4

The rough project of bone visible on the anterior surface of the pubis bone

Front 5

Obturator foramen

Back 5

t

Front 6

Acetabulum

Back 6

Front 7

Supraorbital torus

Back 7

Front 8

Cranial vault

Back 8

Front 9

Nuchal Crest

Back 9

Front 10

Suborbital Margin

Back 10

Front 11

Zygomatic Arch

Back 11

Front 12

Eye Orbit Shape

Back 12

Front 13

Mastoid Process

Back 13

Front 14

Maximum Diameter for Head of Femur

(for sex comparison)

Back 14

Front 15

Maximum Bicondylar width

(for sex comparison)

Back 15

Front 16

Maximum Diameter of Head

of Humerus

(for sex comparison)

Back 16

Front 17

Epicondylar Width

(for sex comparison)

Back 17

Front 18

Maximum length of Humerus

(for sex comparison)

Back 18

Front 19

Mental eminence

(for sex comparison)

Back 19

Front 20

Ramus angle to mandible

(for sex comparison)

Back 20

Front 21

Cranial Index

Back 21

B/L x 100

Front 22

Os Japonicum

Back 22

*bipartite (2) or tripartite (3) zygomatic bone

Greater frequency in:

Japanese - 7%

Korean

Front 23

Humoral Septal Aperture

Back 23

A small hole that forms at the elbow joint in the distal end of the humerus.

More often in female skeleton.

Front 24

Agenesis of 3rd molar

Back 24

Loss of 3rd molar - failure of tooth development

Commonly influenced by genetics

Little or no selection for trait - good enough for non-metric identifier

Front 25

Metopic Suture

Back 25

Non-closure of the frontal suture, which normally closes by 12
European population may have a small extension from union of nasal bone into adulthood
Greater frequency of suture is in Asians, with much longer suture that might go beyond frontal bone

Front 26

Bifurcated Rib

Back 26

Congenital abnormality

Usually unilateral

Usually asymptomatic

Front 27

Epipteric bone

(Flower bone)

Back 27

Specific type of Wormian bone

Junction of parietal, frontal, greater wing of sphenoid, squamous portion of temporal bone

Does not indicate ethnicity or race

Some genetic heritability

Front 28

Os Inca Bone

Back 28

Large wormian bone at lambda

Relatively high frequency in:

Peruvian mummies

Some modern day Andean Mountains Populations

Front 29

Lumbarization of S1

Back 29

Sacrum is 5 fused sacral vertebrae

Typically fused by age 23

Front 30

Wormian bones

(extra sutural bones)

Back 30

Extra bone pieces that occur within a suture in the cranium; mostly frequently in lamboid, occasionally in sagittal & coronoal

Any size

Not indicator of weak skull spot.

Front 31

Sacralization of L5

Back 31

Fusion of the 5th lumbar vertebrae with the first segment of the sacrum

Front 32

H-Form Pterion

Back 32

Front 33

Rocker Jaw

Back 33

Rounded inferior and dorsal aspect of the mandible

Appears in most Polynesian groups

Front 34

Epiphyseal union -

drawing & photo

Back 34

A lot of bones in children fuse to become a single bone

Epiphysial closure indicates end of bone growth, allowing for age of death to be determined by what has and has not fused.

Females typically fuse earlier.

Front 35

When are developmental traits used for aging? What do they include?

Back 35

Used on sub-adults

Tooth eruption

&

Ephiphyseal union

Front 36

Epiphyseal Union X-ray samples

Back 36

Front 37

Bone resorption

Back 37

Accompanies loss of permanent teeth

Associated with old age BUT cannot provide accurate age range.

Loss of permanent teeth and stimulus of chewing causes bone loss.

Front 38

Decidious Dentition Tooth Eruption

Back 38

2nd molars erupt at 24 months

Front 39

Permanent Dentition

Back 39

Front 40

Degenerative Traits

Back 40

• Pubic symphasis
• Auricular surface of the ilium
• Changes in morphology of the sternal ends of the ribs
• Cranial suture morphology
• Osteon counting
• Joint degeneration

Front 41

Pubic Symphyseal Face Stages

Back 41

Undergoes regular changes from 18 on

Front 42

Dental Attrition

Back 42

Usually associated with adults

Loss of permanent teeth associated with adults

Cannot accurate age range

Leads to loss of outer white tooth enamel and exposure of yellowish dentine of pulp cavity; more exposed with age

Does not take diet into consideration

Front 43

Stages of Bone Healing

Back 43

Stage 1: 2-4 weeks, overlaps with stage 2

Stage 2: 1-2 months

Stage 3: months to years

Front 44

Leprosy

Back 44

Disease caused by bacteria

Primarily damages the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract

skin lesions form and eventually causing permanent damage to the skin, nerves, bones and eyes.Once in the bone nodules form.

Front 45

Rheumatoid arthritis

Back 45

An inherited disease/side effect of Lyme disease.

May be triggered by microorganisms

Affects more joints, more symmetric

Skeletal changes: epiphyseal lipping, ankylosing spondylitis, vertebral column fusion

Front 46

Periostitis

Back 46

Outer surface of bone is reabsorbed in a wormy/dendritic pattern

Periosteum separates from bone

Immature bone fills gap

Bone begins to bulge and thicken

Front 47

Anemia

Back 47

Possible explanation of osteoporotic lesion on superior aspect of orbit

Front 48

Vertebral osteophytosis

Back 48

Degeneration of spinal column

Leaking disc fluid leads to osteophyte formation on vertebral bodies

May result in vertebral fusion

Front 49

Treponemal diseases

Back 49

Diseases that change bone tissue

Changes to bone that are connected to where lesions form.

Include: syphilis, TB, leprosy

Front 50

Syphilis

Back 50

Skulls with characteristic

lesions

Front 51

Tuberculous - where it can affect bone

Back 51

Front 52

Osteoarthritis

Back 52

Caused by trauma or wear-and-tear on synovial joints like knees, wrists, & fingers

Epiphyseal lipping or osteophyte growth can be caused by it.

Front 53

Gout

Back 53

Medical condition caused by elevated levels of uric acid in blood

Uric acid crystallized and deposits in joints, tendons and surrounding tissues

Creates arthritic conditions, ultimately alteration of the shape of the bones

Front 54

Pott's disease

Back 54

Extrapulmonary TB that invades the spine

Weakens vertebrae to collapse point

Creates severe bend in spine

Front 55

Avascular necrosis

Back 55

Version of osteoarthritis that is randomly distributed throughout the body

Front 56

Teeth....

Back 56

• Are well preserved
• Resist decay
• Frequently outlast bones
• Play a major role in study of Forensic investigations

Front 57

Uses for teeth

Back 57

• Identification through dental impressions
• Dental appliances
• Dental modification
• DNA

Front 58

Anatomy of Teeth

Back 58

Crown made of enamel which is resistant to most decomposition processes

DNA is in root

Front 59

Permanent Teeth

Back 59

• permanent/adult/secondary
• 32 total
• 16 each upper and lower
• Half of arch is quadrant
• All adult teeth except molars have primary/deciduous teeth

Front 60

Adult Dental Formula

Back 60

Front 61

Deciduous Dental Formula

Back 61

incisors and canines mini versions of adult ones

2nd molar is replicated and becomes 1st permanent molar

Front 62

Tooth Types

Back 62

Usually 32 in adult mouth

Differ in:

Size, shape, root type

Front 63

Order of Deciduous Eruption

Back 63

After 2 years, interval of 4 before permanent start to erupt

Front 64

Eruption of Permanent Teeth

Back 64

• 1st molars are first permanent teeth
• Replacement of deciduous teeth by permanent teeth: medial incisors, lateral incisors, first premolars, canines, second premolars
• 2nd molars erupt about age 21
• 3rd molars erupt about 18th year (but highly variable)

Front 65

Molar cusp patterns

Back 65

Anthropological use: distinguishing modern populations, assessing primate ancestry

Limited in prehistoric population due to grit-related attrition of cusps

Maxillary molars have different patterns from mandibular patterns

Front 66

Shovel-shaped teeth

Back 66

Especially in populations of Asian decent: Asian groups, Native American groups, indigenous groups of C. and S. America

Tongue side extension of incisor lateral borders

Occasionally cheek side extension of lateral borders: double shovel-shaped incisor (usually on top)

Front 67

Morphological Teeth Variation

Back 67

• Molar cusp patterns
• Extra cusps
• Shovel-shaped teeth
• Peg-shaped teeth
• Extra or missing roots

Front 68

Cultural Deformation

Back 68

Filed, chipped, drilled, incised (often decorative)

Multiple populations

Mostly incisors (easier to work on, most visible)

Interproximal grooves (cavities, absesses, pain relief efforts)

Front 69

Facial Reconstruction

Back 69

Methods - sculpting clay to skull/reproduction; drawing soft tissues on picture of skull

First introduced in late 1800s, into medico-legal in early 1900s

50% favorable results

Various number of tissue markers (9-32), 17 avg.

Lots of formulas and guides

Front 70

Handedness

Back 70

Historically, it was believed that the side of the skeleton that had the most bone mass would indicate handedness

BUT

Not supported by studies,

No measurements of value in determining handedness from the skeleton

Front 71

Body Weight Estimation

Back 71

Four Factors Considered -

Sex, Muscle Markings, Height, Skeletal Robusticity

Determine sex and stature, consult H/W charts

Clothing - Belts, dresses that pinch at waist

ONLY ABLE TO ESTIMATE WITHIN A BROAD RANGE WITH MEASUREMENTS AND WEIGHTS OF SPECIFIC BONES