Human Osteology study of human bones

Forensic Anthros * Usually works with decomposed bodies because medical examiner can’t perform autopsy

…Forensic Anthros * complete biological profile dental record, medical record, disease, trauma, etc. can get positive ID from dental work, previous x-rays

Age at Death * Based on growth, development and degeneration of skeleton * Provide age range = biological age, not chronological age * Subadults = fetal to early 20s * Adults = 20+

Subadults * X axis = birth years * Y axis = length in mm 1. long bone length
- works well for new born to 12 year olds 2. fusion of long bones: epiphyses to diaphysis diaphysis = shaft of the bone * works well for 12-25 years olds 3. Fusion of primary growth centers in skull * will work from fetal to about 6 years old 4. Dental development and eruption

Adults 1. Pubic symphysis * middle picture young person (under 25 years old) * right picture surface is pitted, eroded (at least 60 years old) 2. Auricular surface * last picture smooth surface, outline is crisp (person no more than 35) * middle picture surface is wavy, outline is rigged (person about 50-60 years old) 3. Cranial suture closure * as you get older, the squiggly lines cannot be seen anymore 4. Palatal sutures * can be helpful for 25-50 year olds

Sex Determination * females pelvis adapted for birth (95-97% accuracy) * male on the left and female on the right * female has much wider hip bones and bigger opening

Sex Determination * Skull: males more robust, muscle marked * All population specific
Ex. Dutch woman vs Italian man * Skull on left = male; right = woman * Less accurate than pelvis (about 90%)

Trauma * Bone injury caused by outside force * May be caused by * antemortem (show healing; before death) * Perimortem (caused at time of death) * Postmortem (caused after death) * 4 types 1. Fracture * Healed or not? Look at fracture callus 2. Sharp Force * caused by narrow weapon * incisions and punctures left picture cut mark not healed; person did not survived (example of incision) right picture cut marks not healed (ex. Of incision) 3. Blunt force * heavy, large weapon (car accident, a fall, baseball bat, etc.) * Crushing, fragmentation, fracture lines
Manor of death = how did they die (accident, suicide, or murder)
Cause of death (from stabbing, falling, etc.)