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Chapter 14. Human Remains and Forensic Anthropology. Unit Objectives. distinguish between a female and a male skeleton give an age range after examining unknown skeletal remains describe differences in skull features among the three major racial categories
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Chapter 14 Human Remains and Forensic Anthropology
Unit Objectives • distinguish between a female and a male skeleton • give an age range after examining unknown skeletal remains • describe differences in skull features among the three major racial categories • estimate an individual’s height by measuring long bones • use technology and mathematics to improve scientific investigations and communications • identify questions and concepts that guide scientific investigations • communicate and defend a scientific argument
Forensic Anthropology is a type of applied anthropology that specializes in the changes and variations in the human skeleton for the purpose of legal inquiry.
Forensic Anthropology, continued • A forensic anthropologist may provide basic identification information on skeletonized or badly decomposed remains. • From a whole bone or part of a bone, the scientist may be able to determine: • An age range • Gender • Race • Approximate height • Cause of death, disease, or anomaly
Osteology: the study of bones • There are 206 bones in the average adult human body. • Functions of bones include: • Provide structure and rigidity • Protect soft tissue and organs • Serve as an attachment for muscles • Produce blood cells • Can detoxify the body by removing heavy metals and other foreign elements from the blood
Bones are held together by: • Cartilage – wraps the ends of bones and keeps them from scraping one another • Ligaments – bands that connect two or more bones together • Tendons – muscle to bone
Types of Bones • Bones are classified according to function: • Long – used for large movement; ie: femur • Short – for small movement; ie: carpals and tarsals • Flat – thin bones usually protect organs; ie: cranium, scapulae, ribs • Irregular – used for special functions; ie: vertebrae • Sesamoid – usually embedded in tendons, used to protect the integrity of tendons; ie: patella
Now, time for a jigsaw activity! You will be teaching yourselves and each other the methods used by forensic anthropologists to identify certain characteristics about human skeletal remains