Download Bones of the Human

Forensic Anthropology
Southern Boone County HS
Forensics
Bill Palmer
Bones are our last and best witness;
they never lie and they never forget.
Definition
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Forensic anthropology is the
application of the science of physical
anthropology to the legal process.
Forensic anthropologists apply
standard scientific techniques
developed in physical anthropology
to identify human remains, and to
assist in the detection of crime.
What can bones tell us?
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Human or nonhuman
Age
Gender
Stature
History of trauma or disease
Evidence for cause and manner of death
Handedness & type of occupation
Racial determination not reliable
Intact vs. disarticulated
(In which case is identification easier?)
Intact vs. disarticulated
(In which case is identification easier?)
Intact is easier but not
likely to be found by a
forensic anthropologist.
Excavated remains
Typical skeleton
found at a crime
scene.
Posterior view
Scapulae not always noticed in front view
Do you see the scapulae here?
Male and female skull
Chimpanzee
Neanderthal Skull
Trephined cranium from Peru
Bones of Human Skull
Bones of Human Skull
Traditional facial
reconstruction
Forensic Anthropologist can reconstruct a
face from skeletal remains.
Computer-aided facial
reconstruction
Computer
programs can
also reconstruct
facial features
from a skull.
Bones of the skull
1. Parietal Bone 2. Coronal Suture
3. Frontal Bone 4. Nasal Bone 5.
Vomer 6. Lacrimal Bone 7. Orbital
Part of Ethmoid 8. Zygomatic
Bone 9. Maxilla 10. Body of
Mandible 11. Ramus of Mandible
12. Coronoid Process 13.
Mandibular Condyle 14. Mental
Foramen 15. Styloid Process 16.
External Acoustic Meatus 17.
Mastoid Process 18. Zygomatic
Process 19. Temporal Bone 20.
Greater Wing of Sphenoid 21.
Inferior Temporal Line 22. Superior
Temporal Line 23. Squamosal
Suture 24. Lambdoidal Suture 25.
Occipital Bone
Bones of the Human
You should know the
names of the bones of the
human skeleton.
Bones of the Human
male vs. female
The female pelvis has a larger opening
than the male-for child bearing.
Bones of the Human
male vs. female
The male pelvis is
“cup-like and the
female pelvis is like a
“dishpan.”
Also, the male pubic
arch is like a “V” and
the female is like a
“U.”
Bones of the Human
male vs. female
The slope of the forehead of the female
is different than the male. The female
has a “rounded” shape and the male is
more of a slope.
Bones of the Human
male vs. female
Bones of the Human
male vs. female
Bones of the Human
male vs. female
Bones of the Human
Race Determination
Bones of the Human
Race Determination
Orbital openings:
round
Nasal spine:
Prominent
Progathism: straight
Bones of the Human
Race Determination
Bones of the Human
Race Determination
Bones of the Human
Age Determination
Occupational stress wears
bones at joints
Bones of the Human
Age Determination
Surgeries or healed wounds
aid in identification
Bones of the Human
Age Determination
Teeth can help determine age
of a skeleton.
Bones of the Human
Other Information
Evidence of
trauma (here
GSW to the
head)
Bones of the Human
Other Information
•Evidence of post
mortem trauma (here
the head of the femur
was chewed off by a
carnivore)
Bones of the Human
Use your knowledge of
Forensic Anthropology to tell
something about each of the
following slides.