Forensic osteology-age estimation

Question 1

What were the observations of iscan et al.

Answer 1

He looked at the sternal end of 4th rib of the Korean War dead (males) and observed: Pit depth, pit shape, and the rim and wall configuration

Question 2

Ribs Phase 0 (<17)

Answer 2

• Flat or billowy surface
• Regular rim and rounded edges
• Bone, firm, solid and smooth

Question 3

Ribs Phase 1 (17-19)

Answer 3

• Surface begins to show amorphous indentations, billowing still present
• Rim still regular and round
• Scalloping may appear at edges
• Bone firm, solid and smooth

Question 4

Ribs Phase 2 (20-23)

Answer 4

• Pit becomes deeper
• Anterior and posterior walls form a V-shape appearance
• Thick and smooth walls with a scalloped or slightly wavy rim and rounded edges
• Gradual loss of smoothness

Question 5

Ribs Phase 3 (24-28)

Answer 5

• Pit becomes deeper, forms a U-shape
• Walls still thick, with rounded edges
• Still some scalloping but rim becomes more irregular
• Bone quite firm and solid

Question 6

Ribs Phase 4 (26-32)

Answer 6

• Depth of pit increasing, yet retaining moderate to narrow U-shape.
• Walls become thinner, but edges remain round.
• Rim becoming more irregular, losing uniform scalloping pattern

Question 7

Ribs Phase 5 (33-42)

Answer 7

• Little change to depth of pit, moderately wide U-shape
• Thinning of walls continuous with edges becoming sharp
• Rim gets increasingly irregular, no more scalloping but bony projections instead.
• Bone begins to slightly deteriorate, showing porosity and loss of density

Question 8

Ribs Phase 6 (43-54)

Answer 8

• Deep pit with wide U-shape
• Walls thin with sharp edges
• Irregular rim with rather large bony projections, often more pronounced at the superior and inferior borders.
• Bone is becoming lighter, thinner and more porous, especially inside the pit

Question 9

Rib Phase 7 (55-64)

Answer 9

• Deep pit with very wide U-shape
• Walls thin and fragile, sharp and irregular edges with bony projections
• Bone, light, brittle and porous

Question 10

Rib Phase 8 (65+)

Answer 10

• Pit very deep with wide U-shape
• Walls extremely thin, fragile and brittle
• Edges highly irregular with bony projections
• Bone is brittle, very light, friable and porous.
• Walls mat show formation of ‘windows’

Question 11

Suchey-brook Phase 1

Answer 11

• Symphyseal face has a billowing surface composed of ridges and furrows that include the pubic tubercle
• The horizontal edges may be commencing
• Although ossific nodules may occur in the upper extremitiy, main feature of this stage is the lack of delimination.

Question 12

Suchey- brook Phase 2

Answer 12

• Symphyseal face may still show ridge development
• Lower and upper extremities show early stages of delimination, with or without ossific nodules
• Ventral rampart may begin fomration as extension of either or both extremities

Question 13

Suchey-brook Phase 3

Answer 13

• Symphseal face shows lower extremity and ventral rampart in the process of completion
• Fusing ossfic nodules may form the upper extremity adn extend along ventral border
• Symphyseal face may either be smooth or retain distinct edges
• Dorsal plateu complete
• No lipping of symphyseal dorsal margin or bony ligamentous outgrowths.

Question 14

Suchey-Brook Phase 4

Answer 14

• Symphyseal face is generally fine grained, although remnants od rudge and furrow system may remain.
• Oval outline usually complete at this stage, though hiatus may occur in upper aspect of ventral circumference
• Pubic tubercle is fully seperated from symphyseal face through definition of upper extremity
• Symphyseal face must have a distint rim
• Ventrally, bony ligamentous outgrwoth may occur in inferior portion of pubic bone adjacent to symphyseal face.
• Slight lipping may appear on dorsal border

Question 15

Suchey-brooks Phase 5

Answer 15

• Slight depression on teh face relative to a complete rim
• Moderate lipping usually foind on the dorsal border with prominent ligamentous outgrowths on the ventral border
• Little to no erosion, though brekadown possible on supeiror aspect of ventral border

Question 16

Suchey - brooks Phase 6

Answer 16

• Symphyseal face shows on-going depression as rim erodes
• Ventral ligamentous attachments are marked
• Pubic tubercles may appear as separate bony attachments
• Face may be pitted or porous, giving an appearance of disfigurement as the on-going process of erratic ossification proceeds.
• Crenulations may occur, with the shape of the face often irregular.

Question 17

What did lovejoy observe

Answer 17

He looked the auricular surface of the pelvis, closley looking at:

• Microporosity
• Macroporosity
• Transverse organisation
• Billowing and striations

Question 18

Love joy Phase 1 (20-24)

Answer 18

• Billowing and very fine granularity

Question 19

Loveyjoy Phase 2 (25-29)

Answer 19

• Reduction of billowing but retention of youthful appearance

Question 20

Lovejoy Phase 3 (30-34)

Answer 20

• General loss of billowing, repalcement by straie, coarsening granularity

Question 21

Loveyjoy Phase 4 (35-39)

Answer 21

• Unifrom coarse granularity

Question 22

Lovejoy Phase 5 (40- 44)

Answer 22

• Transition from coarse granularity to dense surface this may take place of islands on the surface or both surfaces

Question 23

Lovejoy Phase 6 (45-49)

Answer 23

• Completion of densification with complete loss of granularity

Question 24

Lovejoy Phase 7 (50-59)

Answer 24

• Dense irregular surface of rugged topography and moderate to marked activity in preauricualar areas

Question 25

Loveyjoy Phase 8 (60+)

Answer 25

• Breakdown with marginal lipping, microporosity, increased irregularity and marked activity in pre-auricalr areas