Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

ANT370 > Estimating Age > Flashcards

Estimating Age Flashcards

1
Q

What are the two categories of methods for age estimation?

A

growth of skeleton/dentition and deterioration of the skeleton

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the growth and development method based on?

A

ossification and fusion of bones

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the growth and development method applicable to?

A

juvenile remains

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Are growth & development or skeleton deterioration more precise?

A

growth & development

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What method is applicable to adults?

A

skeletal deterioration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Bones form in ___ models.

A

cartilaginous

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What part of the bone do primary ossification centers exist in?

A

diaphysis and metaphysis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What part of the bone do secondary ossification centers exist in?

A

epiphysis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

True or False: Appearance and fusion of epiphysis and diaphysis happen on a unpredictable schedule.

A

FALSE

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How can you make age estimation the most accurate?

A

by using the entire skeleton

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the three age indicators for agin juvenile remains?

A
  1. lengths of long bones
  2. union of primary ossification centers & union of epiphyses
  3. tooth formation and eruption
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

When does using long bone length work the best?

A

fetal period to about 10 yrs of age

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is a benefit of using long bone length when it comes to age estimation?

A

few ancestral or sex differences exist

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Why is using long bone length best with fetal remains?

A

increased age comes with increased variation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Why else can looking at bone growth be helpful in a forensic case?

A

can look at development and bone density for signs of neglect and malnourishment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

True of False: appearance and union of epiphyses with diaphysis occurs on a rough schedule

A

TRUE

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What part of the body can analyzing primary ossification be really helpful for age estimation?

A

the skull!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What parts of the skull should be analyzed for age estimation?

A

gaps (fontanelles), the fusion of the mandible, the fusion of the atlas, and the fusion of the axis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What ages are epiphyseal union most useful in estimatin?

A

10-25 yrs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are the three scores for epiphyseal union?

A

unfused, fused, or obliterated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are some of the limits of using primary ossification centers and union of epiphyses for age estimation?

A
  1. some of the union rates vary by sex b/c female bone development is about a yr or 2 ahead
  2. knowledge of timetables for epiphyseal unions is incomplete
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Teeth grow from the ___.

A

top down (crown –> root)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What are the four things age can be estimated from?

A

amount of enamel present, amount of crown formed, amount of root formed, amount of tooth eruption

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is the benefit of using dental eruption for age estimation?

A

the timetable is well documented

25
Q

What are the limitations of using dental eruption for age estimation?

A

radiographs are usually required, females develop faster than males, and ranges for age estimates expand with age

26
Q

What are the four main methods of using skeletal degeneration?

A
  1. pubic symphysis
  2. auricular surfaces
  3. sternal rib ends
  4. cranial sutures
27
Q

What are the current methods for pubic symphysis based on?

A

methods by Todd (1920)

28
Q

What is the most used method for analysis of pubic symphysis?

A

Suchey-Brooks (1990)

29
Q

What change does the pubic face experience through age?

A

ridges and furrows –> pitted and eroded

30
Q

What changes does the ventral margin experience through age?

A

right angle –> ventral bevel –> ramp art –> fully developed ventral margin

31
Q

What changes does the dorsal margin experience through age?

A

w/o dorsal plateau –> plateau present

32
Q

What changes do extremities experience through age?

A

no extremities –> extremities fully formed

33
Q

What are other changes to the pubic symphysis experienced through age?

A

ossification nodule on the pubic face v. rim around the pubic face

34
Q

Describe Todd’s method for pubic symphysis age estimation.

A

has stages 1-10, tight ranges exist between ages, does not reflect human variation

35
Q

Describe Suchey-Brooks method for pubic symphysis age estimation.

A

has phases 1-6, collapsed Todd’s stages with statistics, allows for overlap, can show very large age ranges

36
Q

Who was analysis via auricular surface of the os coxa described by?

A

Lovejoy and colleagues (1985)

37
Q

Why is the auricular surface of the os coxa a good bone to use for analysis?

A

the os coxa is an extremely sturdy bone that preserves very well

38
Q

What three parts are analyzed during auricular surface of the os coxa analysis?

A
  1. auricular surface
  2. apex
  3. retroauricular area
39
Q

What five features change with age when looking at the auricular surface?

A

transverse organization, texture, porosity, retroauricular area, apex

40
Q

Describe how the apex changes with age.

A

starts with a thin crescent border and thickens with age

41
Q

Describe how transverse organization changes with age.

A

starts as billows, changes to striae, then transverse organization decreases with age

42
Q

Who was analysis via sternal rib ends described by?

A

Iscan and colleagues (1984, 1985)

43
Q

What are the four features of sternal rib ends that change over time?

A

surface bone, surface contour, rim edge, and rim contour

44
Q

Describe how surface contour changes over time.

A

starts as billowy, then flattens as you age before becoming indented

45
Q

Describe how the rim edge changes over time.

A

starts as no rim then rim begins to form as cartilage ossifies, eventually becomes thinner and jagged

46
Q

Describe how rim contour changes over time.

A

starts as straight, becomes more wavy, eventually fingers of bone project out

47
Q

What are the three areas of the cranium analyzed for age analysis?

A

ectocranium, endocranium, and the palate

48
Q

Only sutures of the ____ are useful for ectocranium analysis.

A

cranial vault

49
Q

How many sutures are useful in for age analysis of the palate?

A

three

50
Q

What are the two most common histological methods for age analysis?

A

cortical bone remodeling & dental changes

51
Q

What is the main problem with using histological methods for age analysis?

A

labor intensive and destructive

52
Q

How does cortical bone remodeling work?

A

thin sections of bone are but from mid-shafts and osteons (full v. partial) are counted

53
Q

What are two additional problems with cortical bone analysis?

A

high rate of count error and many factors besides ages can affect the rate of cortical bone remodeling

54
Q

Who was the first to propose using dental changes for age estimation?

A

Gustav Gustafson

55
Q

What are the 6 dental characteristics analyzed in Gustafson’s method?

A

attrition, secondary dentin, paradentium, cementum apposition, root transparency, and reoot resorption

56
Q

What is attrition?

A

dental wear

57
Q

What is paradentium?

A

root recession

58
Q

What is root resorption?

A

the loss of the tips of roots

ANT370 (17 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions