Download ANT 3514 – Introduction to Biological Anthropology

ANT 3514 – Introduction to Biological Anthropology
Human Osteology
LAB 2, Week of 9/1/02
NOTE: Some of the following questions may require you to look up the answers at home using a
textbook or an osteology website. The questions asterisked (**) must be answered in lab using the
materials made available. The other questions can be answered in class or on your own time.
STATION 1: Skull
The skull (cranium and mandible) is made up of a total of 28 bones. It plays an important role in
physical anthropology in terms of determining age, sex, race, and understanding evolutionary
history.
a). Using the diagram, identify the tagged cranial bones.
**1.__________________
**2.___________________
**3.__________________
**4.___________________
b). In front of you are several cranial fragments. Using the diagrams and the complete cranium
identify these fragments.
**1.__________________
**2.___________________
STATION 2: Vertebral Column
Examine the vertebral column. There are 24 movable vertebrae – 7 cervical, 12 thoracic,
and 5 lumbar. The sacrum and coccyx are fused vertebrae. They are part of the bony pelvis.
a). In addition to being called the 1st and 2nd cervical vertebrae, these bones are also given specific
names. What are they?
b). The vertebrae bear body weight, anchor ligaments and muscles, and protect what structure?
(Hint: It passes through each vertebra and connects to the brain.)
c). Of the 3 aforementioned types of movable vertebrae, which type is just above the bony pelvis?
STATION 3: Thorax (Sternum and Ribs)
The thorax, or chest, is a cage-like structure made up of bone and cartilage. The sternum
(breast bone) and 12 pairs of ribs make up the bony component. The thorax protects the heart and
lungs and assists in breathing.
a). The upper 7 pairs of ribs attach to bones on the front and back of the body. Using the
anatomical specimen identify:
What the ribs attach to on the back of the body? _________________
What the ribs attach to on the front of the body? __________________
b). The sternum anchors the shoulder girdle to the thorax. What 2 bones make up the shoulder
girdle?
____________________
_____________________
STATION 4: Pelvis
The human pelvis is composed of 3 bones. The os coxae (left and right), sacrum, and
coccyx. The pelvis serves to protect and support abdominal organs as well as anchor abdominal and
leg muscles. In a forensic and paleontology context, these bones provide an immense source of
information in determining sex.
a). Which bones of the pelvis are fused vertebrae?
_____________________
____________________
**b). Using the diagram compare the os coxa provided with the articulated male and female pelvis.
Is it male or female? Justify your answer.
STATION 5: Upper Limb
The limbs of terrestrial animals evolved from fish fins. Three bones make up the upper limb: the
humerus, radius, and ulna.
Look at the anatomical specimen when answering the following questions.
a). Which bone of the lower arm is on the same side as your pinkie? ___________
b). Which bone of the lower arm is on the same side as your thumb? ___________
c). Which bones form the elbow joint?
___________
(i.e., Which 2 bones allow you to bend the elbow?)
_____________
STATION 6: Lower Limb
The bones of the leg are the femur, tibia and fibula. The femur is the longest, strongest, and heaviest
bone in the skeleton because of the large amount of weight it must support. It provides valuable
information on an individual’s stature.
a). The fibula is on what side of the body (i.e., medial or lateral)? ________________
b). Examine the femur and guess what height the bone’s owner may have been in inches.
_____________
Now, using the osteometric board in front of you determine the maximum length of the femur and
enter it into the different stature equations below.
**Maximum femur length __________cm
Stature Formulae for the Femur (Male)
Racial
Equation in cm
Group
Caucasian
2.32(femur length) + 65.53 ± 3.94=
Stature
(in cm)
±
Converted
stature (inches)
±
African
2.10(femur length) + 72.22 ± 3.91=
±
±
Asian
2.15(femur length) + 72.57 ± 3.80=
±
±
The above equations will give you answers in centimeters. Go to a metric conversion website and
convert these values into inches. Compare them with your guess. Notice how the same length
femur results in different statures for different racial groups.
STATION 7: Pathology
Examining bone pathology (disease) can provide insight into an individual’s life and death. Read
the following descriptions of different pathologies and match them with their respective bones.
Achondroplasia – abnormality in conversion of cartilage to bone. It is the most common form of
dwarfism characterized by shortening of limbs, large head and a highly curved spine.
Fracture with Callus – Following a fracture, the bone repair process forms a callus around the
fracture site made up of new bone cells. If the bone is not set properly the callus can become quite
large. This happens because the bone is trying to create a shape that allows function to be
maintained.
Anencephaly – defective development of the brain, with absence of the bones of the cranial vault.
Match Bone with Disease
**Achondroplasia ____
**Anenecephaly _____
**Fracture w/ Callus ____
STATION 8: Human vs Nonhuman
The first step in any skeletal analysis is determining whether a bone is human or nonhuman.
a). Of the bones presented, which 2 are human?
**______
**_______
Extra Credit
Which bone do you think belongs to a bird?
** ____________
Some Helpful Websites
http://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article796.html
http://emuseum.mnsu.edu/biology/humananatomy/skeletal/shoulder/shoulder.html
http://www.howe.k12.ok.us/~jimaskew/bbones.htm
http://www.bio.psu.edu/faculty/strauss/anatomy/skel/skeletal.htm
http://www4.tpgi.com.au/users/amcgann/body/skeletal.html