Forensic Anthropology

Question 1

When does the adult skeleton begin degenerating?

Answer 1

As soon as it has completed growth

Question 2

Epiphyseal fusion is used to estimate:

Answer 2

Age in subadults

Question 3

Subadult sex estimation is not recommended for which reason?

Answer 3

Sexual dimorphism does not manifest significantly until puberty

Question 4

What belongs to a biological profile?

Answer 4

Ancestry
Biological age
Sex
Stature

Question 5

How many bones are in the human body?

Answer 5

206

Question 6

What is MNI?

Answer 6

Minimum number of individuals

Question 7

Adult male and female skeletons differ in both general size and shape, related to:

Answer 7

Different musculature and functional requirements

Question 8

What do forensic anthropologist do?

Answer 8

Apply standard scientific techniques to analyse human remains and to assist in the detection of crime

Question 9

What type of cases are forensic anthropologists involved in?

Answer 9

• recent homicides
• mass disasters (disaster victim identification)
• international human rights
• age estimation in the living

Question 10

What are the 3 questions a forensic anthropologist must ask when they find remains?

Answer 10

1. Is it bone?
2. Are the remains human?
3. How many individuals are represented

Question 11

What are the landmarks in bone used for?

Answer 11

• MNI counts
• measurements
• age estimation
• sexual dimorphism
• trauma/pathology

Question 12

What makes up a biological profile?

Answer 12

• sex
• age
• ancestry
• stature

Question 13

What are the secondary factors of a biological profile?

Answer 13

• trauma
• pathology
• individuating characteristics

Question 14

What are the 2 broad categories of sex determination methods?

Answer 14

1. Visual (non-metric) Assessment of morphological features

2. Linear (metric) measurements and statistical analysis

Question 15

Most accurate age estimations are made…….

Answer 15

When the skeleton is still growing

Question 16

What is the most accurate marker of age in subadults?

Answer 16

• teeth
• epiphyseal fusion is next best
• bone length is least accurate as it is susceptible to environmental factors

Question 17

Stages of epiphyseal union

Answer 17

• open: before 12 years
• partial union: 12-14 years
• complete union: 15-20 years

Question 18

What is an issue with using stature as a biological marker?

Answer 18

Self-reported height data is often inaccurate

Question 19

Secondary factors: disease

Answer 19

• acute

- systemic

Question 20

Secondary factors: individuating characteristics

Answer 20

• non-metric traits (abnormalities)
• handedness
• parity status
• musculoskeletal stress markers

Question 21

Secondary factors: trauma

Answer 21

• antemortem

- perimortem

Question 22

What are acute diseases?

Answer 22

Severe and sudden in onset, usually secondary to trauma

Question 23

What are chronic diseases?

Answer 23

Conditions that are long-developing

Question 24

Characteristics of antemortem trauma

Answer 24

• shows evidence of a physiological response
• wound healed, healing or responding to infection
• useful for the identification process

Question 25

Perimortem trauma characteristics

Answer 25

• injury that occurs ‘around’ the time of death
• edges are sharp and show no signs of healing
• should be clear that damage occurred in fresh (not dry) bone
• may provide valuable information about circumstances surrounding death