Forensic Anthropology

Forensic

Anthropology

Bones &

Biological Profiles

The Basics of Bones

There are differences among bones that can be used
to distinguish between male and female,
young and old, and among different ancestries.

Match

Match the following

• Wraps the ends of bones for protection and keeps them from scraping against each other

• Bands of tissue connecting together two or more bones

• connect muscle to bone

Cartilage

Ligaments

Tendons

• Cartilage

• Ligaments

• Tendons

Multiple Choice

The arm and leg bones can be used to determine forensic height

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

• Humerus

• Ulna

• Radius

• Clavicle

Multiple Choice

Where is the Femur Located?

• Thigh

• Lower Leg

• Toes

• Fingers

Multiple Choice

What two bones make up our lower leg?

• Patella

• Kneecap

• Tibia Fibula

• Pelvis

Dropdown

When humans are born, they have ​

Select answer

bones. As they reach maturity, those bones fuse to a new total of​

Select answer

Male vs Female

Males also tend to
have larger bones
than females, and

larger areas for

muscle

attachment.

Determining Age

By examining the biological changes
that took place during a person’s life, the
investigators can identify when teeth are erupting,
bones are growing, epiphyses (growth plates) are
forming & uniting, & closure of the cranial sutures.

Determining Age

Fetal Baby Young Older Teen Adult

Child Child

Determining Age

5 years old 80 years old Infant

Determining Age

Multiple Choice

The pelvis of a female is _____ as compared to a male.

• wide and circular

• wide and heart-shaped

• narrow and circular

• narrow and heart-shaped

Multiple Choice

What can't skeletons tell us?

• Gender

• Height

• Race

• Health

• Intelligence

2 years old 9 years old Adult

Determining Age

4 years old 30 years old 70 years old

Determining Age

Determining Ancestry

Most often divided in to three categories:

- European Descent

- African Descent

- Asian/Native American Descent

Multiple Choice

The ilium, pubis and ishium make the

• upper arm

• pelvic bone

• skull

• lower leg

Multiple Choice

• Mandible

• Zygomatic

• Temporal

• Maxilla

Multiple Choice

Is this a male or female pelvis?

• male

• female

• other

Multiple Choice

If a skull has square eye sockets, a square mandible, a large upper brow ridge and a large mastoid bone protrusion, it is

• male

• female

The nose provides multiple race indicators.

European: the nasal aperture is long and narrow, with a high bridge and a sharp nasal sill (the lower
edge of the nasal aperture projects sharply outwards).

African: the nasal aperture is short and wide with a low bridge and a guttered or trough-like nasal sill.

Asian/Native American: the nasal aperture is medium-sized with both a medium bridge and nasal sill.

Determining Ancestry

Determining Ancestry

The shape of the incisors is the most important indicator of race in the teeth.

Determining Ancestry

Asian/Native American: the
incisors are shovel-shaped,

the inner surface is
scooped or curved.

African & European:
both have blade-form
incisors, the tooth has

a flat profile.

Determining Ancestry

European African Asian/

Native American

There are also distinctive orbit shapes for each of the three major areas of descent.

Height Determination

Height can be estimated by examining one or more of the long bones.

Men and women have different proportions of long bones to total height, so separate formulas have been
developed for each.

These formulas are generally accurate within a range of +/- 7.5cm (3”)

Multiple Choice

What about the skull will tell you about their age?

• Fused sutures

• Frontal bone size

• Presence of sutures

• Size of orbitals

Multiple Choice

The skull of an african-american would likely have a _____ eye orbital than a caucasian.

• Wider

• Narrower

Multiple Choice

Why is race hard to determine from skeletal remains

• Bones from all races are the same shape and sizes.

• The mixing of races has become more common

• There is not enough data available to determine race

Multiple Select

Choose ALL of the following characteristics that a forensic anthropologist would need to look at in order to determine race:

• Nasal cavity

• Eye Socket

• Femur

• Zygomatic Process (Cheek Bone)

Height Determination

Estimated height of a female (cm):

H= femur length x 2.21 + 61.41
H= tibia length x 2.53 + 72.57

H= humerus length x 3.14 + 64.97

H= radius length x 3.87 + 73.50

Estimated height of a male (cm):
H= femur length x 2.23 + 69.08
H= tibia length x 2.39 + 81.68

H= humerus length x 2.97 + 73.57

H= radius length x 3.65 + 80.40