Exploring Forensic Anthropology: Understanding Bone Anatomy

ANTHROPOLOGY PROJECT Student Name: [ ] Learning Bone Anatomy

SECTION 1: RESEARCH AND BACKGROUND Visit the following 2 websites to gain an understanding of forensic anthropology and what bones (or remains) can tell you about the deceased. Don't spend too much time on these sites, while fascinating, you only have to learn enough information to answer the 5 questions on this page.  http://anthropology.si.edu/writteninbone/index.html skeleton keys --> Bone Basics  http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/technique/learning-from-skeletons/ Mouse over the skeleton 1. What can the teeth tell you about the deceased? [Teeth can provide a lot of information about the deceased. They can tell age, diet, health status, trauma, and even geographical origin. The presence of dental work, such as fillings or crowns, can indicate access to dental care and socioeconomic status. The wear patterns on teeth can give insights into dietary habits and age. Dental abnormalities or diseases can also offer clues about the individual's health and possibly cause of death. ] 2. How can the skull be used to determine age? [several features of the skull can be examined to estimate the age of the deceased. These include the closure of cranial sutures, the degree of tooth wear, and the development and eruption of teeth in younger individuals. The fusion of certain skull bones occurs at predictable ages, allowing forensic anthropologists to estimate the age range of the individual. ] 3. How is the pelvis of a female different from the pelvis of a male? [The pelvis of a female differs from that of a male primarily due to its adaptation for childbirth. Female pelves tend to be broader and shallower, with a wider subpubic angle compared to male pelves. These differences accommodate the passage of a baby's head during childbirth. Additionally, the sciatic notch, which is wider in females, allows for easier passage of the sciatic nerve. ] 4. The hand bones can help you determine what about the deceased? [Examination of hand bones can provide information about the individual's occupation, lifestyle, and possible injuries. For example, the presence of robust bones or specific stress markers may indicate repetitive manual labor. The proportions of the hand bones can also give insights into ancestry and help in the identification process. ] 5. What is the last bone to complete its growth? [The last bone in the human body to complete its growth is typically the clavicle, also known as the collarbone. The clavicle typically finishes its growth around the age of 25, although this can vary among individuals. ]

SECTION 2: THE CRIME SCENE  In a quiet camping area known as Crystal Lake, four complete human skeletons were found in the mud when the lake began to dry during a drought. Detectives checked the missing person's reports for people in the area and found that five people had disappeared from that area over the last 10 years.  Oddly, the skeletons were almost completely intact due to being somewhat preserved in the clay at the bottom of the lake.  ~ Author's Note: These are fictitious characters in a fictitious crime scene

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SECTION 2: THE CRIME SCENE  The following 4 slides feature 4 unique bone sets. Keep track of which bones belong to each set, don't get them mixed up. I have put a colored dot on each bone. All bones with the same colored dot belong to the same cadaver. Also be very careful not to change the size of each bone. They are exactly the size that they need to be.  You will need to rotate, move and reconstruct each bone set into a complete skeleton in anatomical position. Again, each page has a set of bones that is specific in shape and length to that person, do not change the size of the bones.  After you've reconstructed all 4 skeletons. Label the following structures on EACH skeleton. (repetition is the learning strategy we are using here) Draw lines to each structure listed below and write the name of the structure next to the line. DO THIS ON ALL 4 SKELETONS.  Once you’ve finished reconstructing and labeling your skeletons – move on to slide 9 Skull Sternum Ribs Vertebrae Sacrum Coccyx Clavicle Scapula Humerus Radius Ulna Carpals Tarsals Fibula Tibia Patella Femur Os Coxa

Gender: [female ] Height: [ 5’8 ] Age: Over 35 Under 35 Bone Set 1: Missing Person Name: [ Eva Longori ] Show your calculations in this box: skull sternum ulna humerus femur tibia ribs vertabrate Os Coxa sacrum coccyx clavical scapula radius carpol tarsels fidia patella 5.3 x 8.6 = 45.8 (2.47 x 45.8) + 54.10

Gender: [ male ] Height: [ 6’1 ] Age: Over 35 Under 35 Bone Set 2: Missing Person Name: [neil baxter ] Show your calculations in this box: skull clavical sturnum humerus ribs ulna radius carpols scalpul vertabrate Os caxa sacrum cocxyx femur tibia fibia tarsals patella 6.0 x8.6 (2.32 x 51.6) + 65.53 185.242 x 0.0328

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Gender: [male ] Height: [5’11 ] Age: Over 35 Under 35 Bone Set 3: Missing Person Name: [Robert Downey ] Show your calculations in this box: skull clavical humeras ribs vertabre carpols radius sacrum Os cora cocxyx ulna femur patella tibia fibia tarsales 5.5x8.6 (47.3 x 2.32) + 65.53 175.266 x 0.0328 scapula

Gender: [female ] Height: [5.0 ] Age: Over 35 Under 35 Bone Set 4: Missing Person Name: [sara Munchausen ] Show your calculations in this box: 4.5 x 8.4 (37.8 x 2.47) + 54.10 147.466 x 0.0328 skull clavical humeras scapula ribs vertabre radius ulna carpols tarsoles femur tibia fibia patella cocxyn sacrum Os cora

SECTION 3: MISSING PERSON’S REPORT  Name: Robert Downey  Age: 45  Height: 5‘11  Weight: 190 lbs  Name: Eva Longori  Age: 55  Height: 5'8  Weight: 140 lbs  Name: Jamie Matthews  Age: 18  Height: 6‘7  Weight: 190 lbs  Name: Sara Munchausen  Age: 21  Height: 5'0  Weight: 105 lbs  Name: Neil Baxter  Age: 30  Height: 6'1  Weight: 210 lbs

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SECTION 3: DETERMINE GENDER  When describing the male verses the female pelvis it is not effective enough to say that the female pelvis is wider than the male pelvis. Humans come in all shapes and sizes. To be more specific you should use the correct terms in reference to “wider.”  The Female “Pelvic Brim” is wider than the male so that it is more oval shaped and the male is more heart shaped.  The Female “Pubic Arch” is wider than the male so that it measures 90 degrees or larger. The male pubic arch will be less than 90 degrees.  Use this information to look at the pelvises of the cadavers. Determine whether they are male or female and record this in the space provided at the top of each Bone Set.

SECTION 4: CALCULATE HEIGHT  Next you will need to determine the Height of each Cadaver  Use the ruler provided on each bone set to measure the length of the femur in cm. Be careful not to change the size of the ruler or the size of the femurs. Be very precise in your measurements.  Notice the example to the right. Measure from the tip of the Head of the Femur to the very bottom of the Medial Condyle. This femur is 4.6 centimeters long.  Use the following formula to determine the height of your subject. Type your calculations in the yellow box on the appropriate Bone Set Page  Notice the sd (standard deviation) Your final calculation can be off by 3.94cm in the male and 3.72cm in the female. Your "paper" skeleton is not a real skeleton. Assume that 1cm on your paper skeleton = 8.6 cm on the real skeleton Measure the femur in cm and multiply by 8.6 Then plug that number in one of the following formulas. Male (2.32 x length of the femur in cm.) +65.53 ± 3.94 sd Female (2.47 x length of the femur in cm.) + 54.10 ± 3.72 sd 1 cm = 0.0328 ft Convert your answer from cm to ft. by multiplying your answer by 0.0328

SECTION 5: DETERMINE APPROXIMATE AGE  Lastly you will need to compare the age of each bone set to that of the missing persons reports.  Each of the skulls from the subjects were examined in detail. See if you can determine their age (either over 35 or under 35) by the sagittal sutures. Remember that sutures close fully by the age of 35.  On your skeleton reconstruction pages, Circle whether the skull indicates the person is over 35, or under 35. Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4

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Good job detective! You are all done! SECTION 6: NAME THE DECEASED  Now that you know the gender, height, and approximate age of each of the cadavers, determine the name of each Bone Set  Type in the name of the appropriate Missing Person on each Bone Set. THE END

Lab Assignment # 1- Anthropology Project (Online)

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