Midterm 1 Flashcards
1
Q
One definition of forensic anthropology is that it is the study of human skeletons that have been found under suspicious circumstances.
A
True
2
Q
Forensic anthropologists not only deal with modern skeletons but also historically significant skeletal remains
A
True
3
Q
For. Anthros are legally responsible for determining cause and manner of death from the skeleton
A
False
4
Q
Anthroscopy is the measurement of metric traits in human skeletons?
A
False
5
Q
Osetometry usually employs ordinal scales
A
False
6
Q
Calipers and bone boards measure osteological structures using ratio level scales
A
True
7
Q
Decision tables help untangle conflicting data
A
True
8
Q
Range charts untangle conflicting data
A
True
9
Q
Indexes and discriminant functions are methods for expressing visual traits in terms of numbers
A
True
10
Q
In discriminant functions, measurements of bone or osteological structures (e.g. jaws, face) are entered into a formula and a number is calculated that indicates membership in a group
A
True
11
Q
The sectioning point separates groups in discriminant functions
A
True
12
Q
Regression equations help to predict one measurement from another
A
True
13
Q
Which one is not a main objective of forensic anthropological analysis?
- Determination of demographic characteristics from the skeleton
- Assist in the proper location, excavation, and mapping of human remains
- Estimate postmortem interval
- Determine cause of death
A
- Determine cause of death
14
Q
Which is not a role of forensic anthropologists
A Determination of demographic characteristics from the skeleton
B Determine cause of death
C Provide input on trauma to bone in fleshed bodies
D None of the above
A
B Determine cause of death
15
Q
Is identification of a decedent from dental remains a role of a forensic anthro. In a medicolegal context?
A
No
16
Q
Which of the following is not one of Clyde Snow’s questions?
A Are the remains of medicolegal significance?
B Are the remains human?
C When did death occur?
D None of the above
A
A
17
Q
The age of a human is usually measured on which of the following scales? A Nominal B Ordinal C Interval D Ratio
A
C Interval
18
Q
The weight of a human is usually measured on which of the following scales? A Nominal B Ordinal C Interval D Ratio
A
D Ratio
19
Q
The occupation of a human is measured on which of the following scales? A Nominal B Ordinal C Interval D Ratio
A
A Nominal
20
Q
Which scale are anomalies in human skeletons measured on? A Nominal B Ordinal C Interval D Ratio
A
A Nominal
21
Q
When a forensic anthropologist determines that a decedent smoked a pipe during life because of the wear on his teeth, what data gathering method is he or she using?
A Anthroposcopy B Osteometry C Chemical D Histology
A
A Anthroposcopy
22
Q
When a forensic anthropologist determines that a femur (thigh bone) is 450 mm long, what data gathering method is he or she using?
A Anthroposcopy
B Osteometry
C Chemical
D Histology
A
B
23
Q
If a forensic anthropologist wants to estimate the age of a person from multiple characteristics of the skeleton with known ranges, which of the following data analysis methods would be most helpful to him/her? A Decision tables B Range charts C Indexes D Discriminant functions
A
B Range charts
24
Q
If a forensic anthropologist feels he/she can guess at the occupation of a person from multiple characteristics seen in the skeleton, which of the following data analysis methods would be most helpful to him/her? A Decision tables B Range charts C Indexes D Discriminant functions
A
A Decision tables
25
If a forensic anthropologist measures the width and length of a skull and divides these two measurements, which of the following data analysis methods is he/she using?
```
A
Decision tables
B
Range charts
C
Indexes
D
Discriminant functions
```
C Indexes
26
If a forensic anthropologist feels he/she can guess at the occupation of a person from multiple measurements of the skeleton, which of the following data analysis methods would be most helpful to him/her?
```
A
Decision tables
B
Range charts
C
Indexes
D
Discriminant functions
```
D Discriminant functions
27
If a forensic anthropologist feels he/she can estimate the length of a humerus (upper arm bone) from the length of the femur (thigh bone), which of the following data analysis methods would be most helpful to him/her?
```
A
Range charts
B
Indexes
C
Regression formulas
D
Discriminant functions
```
C Regression formulas
28
```
If a forensic anthropologist feels he/she can estimate the age of a person by dividing the number of teeth present by the total number of teeth, which of the following data analysis methods would be most helpful to him/her?
A
Range charts
B
Indexes
C
Regression formulas
D
Discriminant functions
```
B Indexes
29
Human osteology is the study of the human skeleton, while odontology is the study of the dentition.
True
30
In a standing human, the head is inferior to the shoulders.
False
31
The frontal bone is the only bone in the human skull that is not paired (i.e., has a left and right).
False
32
The temporal bone is articulated to the frontal bone.
False
33
The coronal suture separates the parietal bones.
False
34
The squamosal suture separates the right and left parietal bones.
False
35
Most vertebrae are composed of a body and neural arches with spinous processes.
True
36
The cervical vertebrae compose the bones of the neck while the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae are the bones of the back.
True
37
The acetabulm is the socket for the head of the humerus.
False
38
The knee is partially composed of the proximal epiphysis of the tibia.
False
39
The permanent dentition of humans consists of 8 incisors, 4 canines, 4 premolars and 8 molars.
False
40
Which of the following is not a cardinal direction used in describing osteological structures?
Frankfort
41
```
Which of the following sutures separates the occipital from the parietals?
A
Internasal
B
Squamosal
C
Lambdoid
D
Sagittal
```
C
| Lambdoid
42
```
Which of the following sinuses is especially useful in positively identify a person?
A
Frontal
B
Maxillary
C
Ethmoid
D
All of the above
```
A Frontal
43
```
The atlas (first vertebra) does not have which of the following components common to other vertebrae?
A
Body
B
Neural arch
C
Transverse process
D
All of the above
```
A Body
44
```
Which of the following areas are involved in the articulation of the humerus to other boney elements?
A
Glenoid cavity
B
Olecranon process
C
Trochlea
D
All of the above
```
A Glenoid cavity
45
Which of the following bones of the pelvis can be palpated (felt) on the side at the level of the waist?
```
A
Ilium
B
Ischium
C
Pubis
D
Sacrum
```
A Ilium
46
```
Which of the following bones of the lower limbs compose the shin?
A
Femur
B
Tibia
C
Fibula
D
None of the above
```
B Tibia
47
```
The proximal epiphysis of the radius is the:
A
Head
B
Radial tuberosity
C
Styloid process
D
Ulnar notch
```
A Head
48
The proximal epiphysis of the ulna is the:
```
A
Olecranon process
B
Head
C
Styloid process
D
None of the above
```
A Olecranon process
49
```
The occlusal surface of teeth is covered by:
A
Dentin
B
Enamel
C
Pulp
D
All of the above
```
B Enamel
50
```
Which of the following directions is of little value when discussing molars?
A
Labial
B
Lingual
C
Buccal
D
Occlusal
```
A Labial
51
Humans have more plexiform bone than other mammals.
False
52
The main maturity distinction between subadult human long bones and those of adult mammalians is the lack of epiphyses on their ends.
True
53
Human canine teeth might be easily mistaken for those of a carnivore.
False
54
The ulna and radius of ungulates are distinctly different from their human counterparts.
True
55
The mammalian metapodials are likely to be mistaken as human metacarpals and metatarsals.
False
56
The pubic face of humans is larger than those of nonhuman animals.
True
57
The neck of the femur from cows is longer than that of humans.
False
58
```
Which of the following can be used to distinguish human from nonhuman bone?
A
Histological structures
B
Maturity differences
C
Architectural differences
D
All of the above
```
D
59
```
Which of the following can be used to distinguish human from nonhuman bone?A
Haversian systems
B
Plexiform bone
C
Size of Haversian systems and canals
D
All of the above
```
D
60
```
The thoracic vertebra of nonhumans can be distinguished from humans by the:
A
Presence of facets for the ribs
B
Single curve from neck to back
C
The long spinous processes
D
All of the above
```
C The long spinous process
61
```
The scapula of nonhumans can be distinguished from humans by the:
A
Presence of a glenoid fossa
B
Overall outline
C
Presence of a spine
D
All of the above
```
A Presence of a glenoid fossa
62
```
The metapoidials of nonhumans can be distinguished from humans by the shape of the:A
Proximal articular surface
B
Shaft
C
Distal articular surface
D
All of the above
```
D
63
```
The os coxa of nonhumans can be distinguished from humans by the:
A
Narrow ilium
B
Elongate shape
C
Wide pubis
D
All of the above
```
D
64
The tibia of nonhumans can be distinguished from humans by the:
```
A
Presence of a proximal articular surface
B
Length of the shaft
C
Configuration of the distal articular surface
D
All of the above
```
A Presence of a proximal articular surface
65
```
Humans hands and feet are similar to bear paws in the:
A
Shape of the metacarpals/metatarsals
B
Shape of the phalanges
C
Number of phalanages
D
All of the above
```
C Number of phalanges
66
```
Which of the following should be done at any outdoor forensic anthropological investigation?
A
Secure area
B
Avoid contamination
C
Treat all findings as equally important
D
All of the above
```
D
67
```
Which of the following is not used in the recovery of human remains?
A
Magnetometer
B
Spectrometer
C
Cadaver dogs
D
Visual assessment
```
B Spectrometer
68
```
Which of the following is a characteristic of a recent human grave?
A
Secondary depression
B
Burial depression
C
Cracks in soil
D
All of the above
```
D
69
```
Which of the following is not a good object to use as a datum point?
A
Parked heavy equipment (e.g., bulldozer)
B
Corner of building
C
Large tree
D
USGS bench mark
```
A
| Parked heavy equipment (e.g., bulldozer)
70
What are the 3 important questions to establish the forensic context?
1. are we dealing with bone?
2. Are the bones human?
3. Are the bones ancient or modern?
71
How does maturity help in animal vs. human bone
Children's long bones apytheses have not yet fused.
72
What do humans have that animals don't (bones)
Unfused tibia and fibula + radius and ulna; large separate clavicles
73
What bones do animals have that humans don't?
Baculum (penis bone); metapodials (instead of metacarpals); plexiform bone
74
Human vs. bear hand
Bear - fifth digit is smallest, claws, distal end of phalanges more grooved
75
What aspects of bone architecture can differentiate human and animal bones?
Animal bones are thicker and have plexiform bone
76
For material to be admissible as evidence, must demonstrate:
not contaminated by matter not found at scene; not lost at any point after being removed from scene -Chain of Custody
77
Job of chief investigator; archeaologist; anthropologist; pathologist
prosecution's on site personel; excavate; examine bones; cause of death and ID
78
How does carbon monoxide poisoning cause the death of an individual? How long does it typically take for an individual to die from carbon monoxide poisoning?
kills by suffocation prevents blood cells from taking up oxygen - takes about 15 mins
79
What types of samples will the coroner take from the deceased’s body? Why is the fingernail area of particular importance?
Body hairs, fingernails; Link the assailant scratched off in a fight could be crucial evidence
80
What are some of the tools used by the forensic pathologist during autopsy? What is “bread loafing”?
Bread loaf tin = vertical sections or organ from one section to the other
a. Ladle - scooping fluids
b. Pruning sheers - to open ribs to get at chest organs
c. Saw
81
How does an autopsy begin? Describe the procedure.
Y incision shoulders to pit of stomach, then straight line down
82
What does the word “autopsy”actually mean as translated from the Greek?
To see for oneself; to see with ones eyes
83
When found in the eyes of a deceased individual, what can “petechial hemorrhage”be a sign of?Alternatively, what can be a differential diagnosis for this condition?
Suffocation or asphyxiation; tiny pint point blood spots in eyes; heart attack can also cause this
84
What is the main method of identification for John/Jane Does?
No fingerprints - John Doe until someone calls in
a. Rehydrating mummified hands - injection of water inside the digit
b. Maggots - how many generations are there - estimated time of death
85
Stages of decomposition
```
Fresh
Early Decomp (bloat)
Active decay
Advanced decay
Skeletal/dry remains
Extreme decomp
```
86
What is the order of first stage decomp
Pallor mortis - algor mortis - livor mortis - rigor mortis
87
What are traits of pallor mortis
Paleness; almost instantaneous due to lack of blood flow; can only use this to determine PMI up to 30 mins AD;
88
What are traits of algor mortis
Coolness of death; body cools at ~1.5*F/h until reaches ambient temp; take rectal temp and put it into equation; big assumptions = no fever at TOD, size of body, external factors didn't change, etc; only up to 18h AD
89
What are traits of livor mortis
Blu-ish colour of death; setting of blood by gravity; lividity (unfixed until 8 hours after; then develop contact palor); after 8-12 hours lividity becomes fixed
90
What are traits of rigor mortis
Stiffness; due to chemical changes in muscle fibres; small muscles first (~2h for face); 12h = height of it; 24h - lost; can be broken down with movement; timing is affected by intrinsic + extrinsic factors
91
Traits of early decomp
Bloat; after 24h body starts to change to blue/green; autolysis + putrefaction (bloat); 4-7 days gloving; 3-7 days = purge fluids
92
Traits of active decay
Black putrefaction, lasts 10-25 days AD; very strong odour arises from gases (HYDROGEN SULFIDE, METHANE, CADAVERINE, PUTRESCENCE); bloating stops,
93
Traits of advanced decay
Butyric fermentation; smells like cheese (attracts cheese skipper); 20-50 days AD; flattening; mummification, saponificaiton (adipocere)
94
Skeletal/dry stage
usually 2 months later
95
Extreme decomp stage
skeleton breaking down; bone bleaching; spongy part visible;
96
If more than 80% of skeleton recovered
less than 6 mos. since death
