Forensic Anthropology

1. Forensic Anthropology

2. Students Will Be Able To: • Distinguish between physical anthropology and forensic anthropology. • Describe how bone is formed. • Differentiate among osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteocytes. • Identify and describe the structures that make up a bone. • List the functions of bone.

3. Types of Anthropology • Physical anthropology is the scientific study of all aspects of human development and interaction • Studies tools, language, traditions, and social interactions • Forensic anthropology studies the identifying characteristics on the remains of an individual • Can identify sex, race, height, and physical health

4. History of Forensic Anthropology • 1800s- Scientists began using skull measurements to differentiate among individuals • 1897- First case solved using forensic anthropology • 1932- FBI crime lab opened • Smithsonian Institution collaborated with FBI to identify remains

5. History of Forensic Anthropology • 1939- Guide to the Identification of Human Skeletal Material published by W. Krogman • Remains of soldiers killed during World War II identified • New techniques in DNA allow for identification of remains

6. Osteology • The study of bones is referred to as osteology

7. Characteristics of Bone • Bones are alive so they are capable of growth and repair • Carry on cellular respiration and consume energy • Blood cells made within marrow of bone • Regulated by hormones that affect the amount of calcium in the blood

8. Development of Bone • Stem cells initiate the production of bone through living cells called osteoblasts • During the first three weeks of fetal development bones begin as soft cartilage • Osteoblasts migrate to center of cartilage and deposit calcium phosphate that hardens to form bone • Process referred to as ossification

9. Development of Bone • By 8th week of fetal development bones can be seen on an X ray • As bones develop a membrane containing nerves and blood vessels cover the surface of the bone • Called the periosteum • Aids in keeping bones moist and aiding in repair of injuries

11. Development of Bone • Throughout our lives, bone is deposited, broken down, and replaced • When bones break, the blood vessels have the ability to increase calcium phosphate to the area to heal it • Ostecytes form the bone framework to produce new bone

12. Development of Bone • Bones must be reshaped • Osteoclasts break down the bone by releasing enzymes that dissolve certain parts of the bone • Also aid in maintaining homeostasis within the bodyand removing cellular wastes and debris from bones

13. Function of Bones • Provides structure and rigidity • Protects soft tissue and organs • Serves as an attachment for muscles • Produces blood cells • Serves as a storage area for minerals • Can detoxify the body by removing heavy metals and other foreign elements from the blood

14. Bone Anatomy • Each bone has three main components • Diaphysis • Is a hollow tube • Consists of compact bone (includes matrix and lacunae) • Epiphysis • Is the end of the bone • Consists of spongy bone filled with red marrow • Epiphyseal plate • It is the growth plate of the bone • Consists of hyaline cartilage

15. Bone Anatomy • Each bone can also have • Medullary cavity • Hollow area inside the diaphysis that contains yellow marrow (adipose) • Periosteum • Covers the bone except at joint surfaces • Consists of dense white connective tissue • Endosteum • Thin membrane that lines the medullary cavity • Articular cartilage • Thin layer of cartilage covering each epiphysis

17. Students Will Be Able To: • Explain the differences between an adult skeleton and baby skeleton. • Identify the bones of the skull, thorax, spine, pelvic girdle, pectoral girdle, thigh, forearm, leg, wrist, and foot.

18. The Skeleton • An adult human has 206 bones • Babies are born with 450 • More due to bones in the skull not fully fusing together

19. Two Portions of Our Skeleton • Axial • Bones of the center of the body • These are our “core” bones • Skull • Hyoid bone • Vertebral column • Thoracic cage • Appendicular • Bones of the appendages • Arms, legs, etc

23. Axial Skeleton • Three basic elements of the axial skeleton • Skull/Cranium • Spine • Thorax

24. Skull • Functions • Protects the brain • Supports organs of special senses • Provides foundation for structures that take air, food, and water into the body

25. Skull • Consists of 8 bones for the cranium, 14 bones for the face, and 6 middle ear bones • Soft spots in the skull are called fontanels • Place where ossification is incomplete at birth • Incomplete due to the need to pass through the birth canal • Will completely form before age 2 • There are six of these on our skulls

26. Skull • Bones of the cranium include • Parietal bone • Frontal bone • Temporal bone • Occipital bone • Bones are separated by sutures • Lambdoid- parietal and occipital • Sagittal- left parietal and right parietal • Squamous- parietal and temporal • Coronal- frontal and parietal

31. Bones of the Nasal Cavity • Is pear shaped and opens anteriorly • Is divided into left and right halves by nasal septum • Bony part is the vomer and ethmoid • Nasal conchae form the lateral walls • Inferior- separates the bones • Middle and superior- projections of the ethmoid

36. Spine • Functions • Supports weight of head and trunk • Protects the spinal cord • Allows spinal nerves to exit the spinal cord • Provides site for muscle attachment • Permits movement of head and trunk

37. Spine • Consists of 26 vertebrae that form a flexible curved rod • Includes 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, the sacrum, and the coccyx • The hole in the center of the vertebrae is called the vertebral foramen • Place where the spinal cord is contained

39. Thorax • Functions • Protects vital organs • Forms semi-rigid chamber for respiration

40. Thorax • Consists of 12 pairs of ribs, the sternum, and thoracic vertebrae • 7 pairs of true ribs • Attach directly to the sternum • 5 pairs of false ribs • 3 pairs attach to sternum • 2 pairs to not attach to sternum (floating ribs) • Also includes the hyoid bone

42. Hyoid Bone • Is unpaired • There is no direct bony attachment to the skull • Is an attachment point for some tongue muscles • Is an attachment point for neck muscles that elevate the larynx during speech and swallowing

43. Sternum • Is the breastbone • Has 3 parts • Manubrium • Articulates with first rib and clavicle • 2nd rib articulates at sternal angle • Body • 3rd through 7th ribs articulate here • Xiphisternum • AKA xiphoid process • Is the tip of the sternum

45. Appendicular Skeleton • Consists of • Girdle • Pectoral and pelvic • Upper limbs • Arm, forearm, wrist, and hand • Lower limbs • Thigh, leg, and foot

46. Pectoral Girdle • Consists of • Scapula • Clavicle

47. Arm • Consists of • Humerus • Fits into scapula • Radius • Located on thumb side • Ulna • Located on pinky side

50. Wrist and Hand • Wrist has 8 carpal bones • Scaphoid • Lunate • Triquetrum • Pisiform • Hamate • Capitate • Trapezoid • Trapezium • Hand has 5 metacarpals (palm side) and 5 digits with their phalanges