Identification of Human Beings Flashcards
1
Q
What is the purpose of identifying the dead?
A
- human rights
- civil law
- closure for families
- assessment of injuries
2
Q
What is involved in identification?
A
- visual inspection
- specialist analysis e.g. anatomists/anthropologists or DNA testing
3
Q
How can sex be determined?
A
- sexual dimorphism of skeleton
- examination for prostate gland/testes or uterus/ovaries
4
Q
How can age be determined?
A
- bone development using ossification centres in fetus/neonates
- assessment of epiphyses in children/adolescents
- ageing by teeth proves most valuable factor
5
Q
Why is it difficult to determine stature?
A
- people may not have had their height measured accurately in life
- however, the lower limb is the most useful for calculation of height
6
Q
What can make IDing easier?
A
when there is a possible identity available to compare
7
Q
How can a persons medical history be of use?
A
- history of deformities, arthritis, gallstones
- surgical procedures: surgical implants or prostheses, pacemakers, old fractures, removal of organs
- tattoos, particularly names
8
Q
What personal identifiers are there?
A
- fingerprints
- dental records
- DNA profiling
