L12.2 Forensic aspect of skeletal biology

Question 1

Role of: police crime scene officer (SOCO)

Forensic anthropologist

Forensic archaelogist

Answer 1

• Collecting evidence → Police Crime scene officer (SOCO)
• Identifying skeletal remains → Forensic anthropologist
• Identify where individual buried → Forensic archaeologist

Question 2

What are the 3 ways to determine sex from skeleton?

Answer 2

1. Pelvis
   
   • Establish from size of pelvic outlet (females’ wider)
   • Iliac bone → females have a larger greater sciatic notch
2. Size of skull
   
   • Males have a greater extent of muscle markings
3. Mandible
   
   • Mental eminence and ramus greater ramus flexure in males

Question 3

Problem with Juvenille skeletal identification?

Answer 3

• Juvenile remains (not reached puberty yet) ∴ no sexual dimorphic features
  
  • Focus on the development of teeth rather than bones (3rd molar eruption)

Question 4

Effect of ageing on skeletal identification

Answer 4

• Osseous tissues predictable & patterned throughout life
• Areas changed with life and are identified by
  
  • Development traits
  • Degenerative traits (ossification, morphological changes to joints…)

Question 5

What are the developmental changes that can be idenified

Answer 5

• Length of diaphysis (foetal)
• Fusion of epiphysis (more developed)
• Pubic symphysis
  
  • Has transverse ridges & grooves in ~20-30yro
• Bone marrow
  
  • Regresses with age to head/neck of bone

Question 6

How is ancestry (race) divided?

Answer 6

• Population divided into:
  
  • Caucasoid (wider jaws)
  • Negroid (Dampening of side of skull & projected brows)
  • Mongoloid (Rounded face, shoveled shaped teeth, wider brain)

Question 7

What is heat’s effect on bones?

Answer 7

• All organic materials gone
• 6-13% shrinkage of bones
  
  • Sex determination becomes difficult
• Pelvic, femur, patellar, vertebrae, foot → often survive
• Skull often explodes