Dem Bones Case Study: Forensic Resurrection of a Skeleton
BIOLOGY 2401 “DEM BONES”: Forensic Resurrection of a Skeleton
Objectives
Work as a team of forensic anthropologists to…
• Determine the sex of a skeleton from pelvic morphological distinctions.
• Determine the sex of a skeleton from skull morphological distinctions.
• Estimate the age of bones of individuals based on morphological changes
• Analyze bones to determine height estimations.
• Develop a regression calculation for estimating height.
• Evaluate bones for pathological and physiological changes.
Materials
Assorted bones: pelvic girdles, femurs, skulls, etc.
Metric ruler or tape measure
Photos of Bone Trauma or Pathology
Before You Begin
1. Read the Dem Bones case study written by Alease Bruce of the Department of Health and clinical Sciences University of Massachusetts at Lowell. The Case copyright is held by the National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, University at Buffalo, State
University of New York. Originally published in July 9, 2001.
2. Organize your team so that you may efficiently complete the forensic investigation of the bones. Designate a quality control member, measuring expert, evidence recorder, etc. as necessary to complete the analysis of the bones and the forensic report.
ACTIVITY I: SEX DETERMINATION FROM PELVIC MORPHOLOGY
Help Tom McCune determine the sex of the skeleton by identifying the specific parts of the pelvic girdle and circling their characteristics on the chart below; then answer the question that follows and provide your reasoning.
Sex Characteristics of the Pelvis
Feature
A. obturator foramen shape
B. acetabulum size
C. pubic arch
D. sciatic notch shape
E. Ilium shape
F. pelvic inlet shape
G. sacrum shape
Male
Large, ovoid
Large
Less than 90 degrees
Narrow, deep
High, vertical
Heart-shaped
Long, narrow
1. What is the sex of the unknown pelvic bone?
Female
Female triangular Small
More than 90 degrees
Wide
wide circular Short, wide
2. Record observations that support this determination.
The pelvic angle is
Objectives
Work as a team of forensic anthropologists to…
• Determine the sex of a skeleton from pelvic morphological distinctions.
• Determine the sex of a skeleton from skull morphological distinctions.
• Estimate the age of bones of individuals based on morphological changes
• Analyze bones to determine height estimations.
• Develop a regression calculation for estimating height.
• Evaluate bones for pathological and physiological changes.
Materials
Assorted bones: pelvic girdles, femurs, skulls, etc.
Metric ruler or tape measure
Photos of Bone Trauma or Pathology
Before You Begin
1. Read the Dem Bones case study written by Alease Bruce of the Department of Health and clinical Sciences University of Massachusetts at Lowell. The Case copyright is held by the National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, University at Buffalo, State
University of New York. Originally published in July 9, 2001.
2. Organize your team so that you may efficiently complete the forensic investigation of the bones. Designate a quality control member, measuring expert, evidence recorder, etc. as necessary to complete the analysis of the bones and the forensic report.
ACTIVITY I: SEX DETERMINATION FROM PELVIC MORPHOLOGY
Help Tom McCune determine the sex of the skeleton by identifying the specific parts of the pelvic girdle and circling their characteristics on the chart below; then answer the question that follows and provide your reasoning.
Sex Characteristics of the Pelvis
Feature
A. obturator foramen shape
B. acetabulum size
C. pubic arch
D. sciatic notch shape
E. Ilium shape
F. pelvic inlet shape
G. sacrum shape
Male
Large, ovoid
Large
Less than 90 degrees
Narrow, deep
High, vertical
Heart-shaped
Long, narrow
1. What is the sex of the unknown pelvic bone?
Female
Female triangular Small
More than 90 degrees
Wide
wide circular Short, wide
2. Record observations that support this determination.
The pelvic angle is