DISCLAIMER:  This study guide does not necessarily contain all information that may appear on the lecture final exam.
 

SUMMARY OF TOPICS COVERED

• Taphonomy
• Race determination
• Sex determination
• Age estimation
• Stature estimation
  
• Skeletal traumas
• Skeletal pathologies
• Special techniques
• Case reports, court testimony, and ethics
  

TAPHONOMY

    TERMS

• taphonomy
• taphonomic process
• natural process
• biological process
• geological process
  
• cultural process
  
• rodent gnawing
• carnivore gnawing
• channeling
• mineral / element deposition (calcite, manganese, iron / iron oxide)
• freeze-thaw and wet-dry cycling
  
• exfoliation
• longitudinal fracture
• algal growth
• sun bleaching
• root etching
• tannin staining

RACE DETERMINATION

    TERMS

• Caucasoid
• Mongoloid
• Negroid
• anthroposcopy
• osteometry
• metric trait
• non-metric trait
  

• accuracy of race determination (in general terms)
  
• skeletal elements (not features) used in race determination
• cautionary notes

• none
  

• accuracy of sex determination (in general, qualitative terms)
• skeletal elements (not features) used in sex determination
• cautionary notes

• developmental traits
• degenerative traits
• epiphyseal union / epiphyseal fusion
• dental wear
• dentin
  

• accuracy of age estimation (in general, qualitative terms)
• skeletal elements/indicators used in age estimation
  
• cautionary notes

• living stature
• potential stature
  

• accuracy of stature estimation (in general, qualitative terms)
• skeletal elements used in stature estimation
• living stature formula
• skeletal height method
  
• cautionary notes

• trauma
• antemortem
• perimortem
• postmortem
• fracture
• callus
• complete fracture
• incomplete fracture
• comminuted or splinter fracture
• compound fracture
• longitudinal fracture
• transverse (perpendicular) fracture
• blunt-force trauma
• sharp-force trauma
• gunshot wound
• entrance wound
• exit wound
  
• carbonized bone
• calcined bone
• curvilinear fracture (coning)
  
• checking fracture
  

• none

• periostitis (periosteal reaction)
• osteomyletis (osteitis)
• arthritis
• osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease)
• traumatic osteoarthritis
• wear-and-tear osteoarthritis
• eburnation
• epiphyseal lipping
• osteophytes / spicules
• synovial joint
• vertebral osteophytosis
• rheumatoid arthritis
• dental caries
• dental hypoplasia (linear and pitting)
  
• dental abscess
• resorption
• alveolar bone
  

• none
  

• facial reconstruction
• direct facial reconstruction
• craniofacial reconstruction / photo superimposition
  
• video superimposition
• dermatoglyphics
• forensic odontology
  

• goal(s) of special techniques
• major types of fingerprint patterns
• types of fingerprints
  

• goals/major components of forensic case report
• guidelines for case reports
• guidelines for court testimony
• ethical issues related to respect, confidentiality, and honesty

ASSIGNED BOOK READINGS

• Chapter 11:  (nothing other than that covered in lecture)

• Chapter 12:  (nothing other than that covered in lecture)

• Chapter 13:  (nothing other than that covered in lecture)

• Chapter 14:  (nothing other than that covered in lecture)

• Chapter 15:  (nothing other than that covered in lecture)

• Chapter 16:  (nothing other than that covered in lecture)

• Chapter 17:  bones used for assessing handedness

• Chapter 18:  forensic facial reconstruction, photographic superimposition, structures studied through radiography for individual identification, positive identification based on forensic odontology

• Chapter 19:  ethical responsibilities, six suggested sections of a forensic case report

1.    According to Byers, the first section of a detailed forensic case report should include

a.    a description of the general condition of the remains.
b.    background on the case.
c.    a skeletal inventory.
d.    the biological profile.
e.    recommendations for further testing.

2.    A set of skeletal remains shows eburnation and osteophytic growth in the shoulder, elbow and wrist joints of the right side of the body.  Which form of arthritis did the individual likely have?

a.    traumatic osteoarthritis
b.    wear-and-tear osteoarthritis
c.    osteophytosis
d.    rheumatoid arthritis
e.    osteomyletis

3.    What type of arthritis is represented by the following skeletal traits:  osteophytes in the joints of both hands and both feet and osteophytic lipping at the all knee, elbow and hip joints.

a.    traumatic osteoarthritis
b.    wear-and-tear osteoarthritis
c.    osteophytosis
d.    rheumatoid arthritis
e.    osteomyletis

4.    True or False:  Forensic anthropologists are expected to testify for the prosecution when providing court testimony.
 

5.    True or False:  Forensic case reports should be in completed in writing, using clear and understandable language, should include graphical illustrations, and must include the case number.
 

6.    True or False:  Dry bone that is burned tends to develop transverse fractures and curvilinear fractures, whereas fresh bone that is burned tends to develop longitudinal fractures and checking.
 

7.    True or False:  Gunshot entrance wounds are round, whereas exit wounds are more irregular in shape.  Gunshot entrance wounds are beveled on the interior bone surface, whereas exit wounds are beveled on the exterior bone surface.
 

 
9.    _________  is an infection of the bone that causes the periosteum to separate and bone surfaces to bulge from the deposition of woven bone under the periosteum.
 

10.    _________  are pits and transverse lines in tooth enamel that represent disruptions in the growth process due to nutritional stress or disease.
 

Click here for answers to practice questions.