Sexing the Skeleton
Flashcard maker : Elizabeth Bates
When reconstructing we must ask?
-How many individuals we have
What do we use to reconstruct?
-Clay
Initial Treatment?
-Sort remains
-Determine commingling (bones of more than one individual?)
-MNI
-Determine commingling (bones of more than one individual?)
-MNI
What is MNI?
-Minimum Number of Individuals
Duplication
-no two bones of the same type and side are present
Consistency in Size
-size and age
-enduring that bones within individuals are of the same proportions
-enduring that bones within individuals are of the same proportions
Anthropometry
-measuring both living and dead
Osteometry
-measurement of the skeleton and its parts
All remains go through measurements to…?
-determine height
-age of juveniles and babies
-age of juveniles and babies
Anatomical Landmarks of the Skull
-precise points that are used for measurements
-Ex. Bregma
-Ex. Bregma
Tools
-Sliding Calipers
-Spreading Calipers
-Osteometric Board
-Mandibulometer
-Tape Measure
-Spreading Calipers
-Osteometric Board
-Mandibulometer
-Tape Measure
Sliding Calipers
-Measuring reference points that are close together and when the countors of the skull do not interfere
Spreading Calipers
Measurement of points on the skull that cannot be taken in a straight line
Osteometric Board
-Used for measuring long bones and other large bones
-Ex. OsCoxa, Scapula, Long Bones
-Ex. OsCoxa, Scapula, Long Bones
Mandibulometer
-linear and angular measurements
Tape Measure
-Record circumference of long bone shafts
-diameters
-diameters
Fordisc 3.0
Computer program utilizing discriminant functions based on modern populations.
*Sex, Ancestry, and Stature
*Sex, Ancestry, and Stature
Who developed Fordisc?
Univ. of Tenn.
Why did they create Fordisc?
Inadequacy of older collections for modern forensic cases has necessitated new statistical methods based on recent data from modern skeletons
Details of Fordisc?
-24 cranial
-10 mandibular
-44 postcranial
-Ultimately use measurements from cranium and postcranial
-Don’t need all bones
-Standard in N. America
-10 mandibular
-44 postcranial
-Ultimately use measurements from cranium and postcranial
-Don’t need all bones
-Standard in N. America
MNI Example #1
-12 adult right femora
-7 adult left femora
-12 adult right femora
-7 adult left femora
MNI-12
MNI Example #2
-12 adult right femora
-15 adult left femora
-4 juvenile left femora
-12 adult right femora
-15 adult left femora
-4 juvenile left femora
MNI-19
Forensic Report- Headings
-Summary of the results
-Narrative
-MNI Section
-Biological Profile
-Trauma
-Time Since Death
-Identification
-Narrative
-MNI Section
-Biological Profile
-Trauma
-Time Since Death
-Identification
Summary of Results
-Quick
-Bulleted
-Bulleted
Narrative
-Important
-Background Info
-where remains were located
-something important about the scene
-if scattered- how large a site
-who collected the remains
-What is the role of the forensic anthropologist in the case
*****No conclusions in the narrative*****
-Background Info
-where remains were located
-something important about the scene
-if scattered- how large a site
-who collected the remains
-What is the role of the forensic anthropologist in the case
*****No conclusions in the narrative*****
MNI Section
-at the beginning of the report
Biological Profile
(Osteobiography)
(Osteobiography)
-After MNI
-Age, Sex, Ancestry, and Stature (height)
-Anomalies and or individualizing traits
-developmental anomalies, pathologies, old injuries,
dental restoration, etc.
-Age, Sex, Ancestry, and Stature (height)
-Anomalies and or individualizing traits
-developmental anomalies, pathologies, old injuries,
dental restoration, etc.
Trauma
-Did trauma happen -Antemortem, perimortem, postmortem
Time Since Death
-Sometimes
-Forensic Anthro. generally not the best person for this unless remains have been outside for an extended period
-Forensic Anthro. generally not the best person for this unless remains have been outside for an extended period
Identification
-If asked
-Also done by ME, Odontologist, Forensic Anthro (In this Case)
-Also done by ME, Odontologist, Forensic Anthro (In this Case)
Antimortem
-Before death
-Will show some sign of healing
-Will show some sign of healing
Perimortem
-At or around the time since death
-Absence of healing
-Still shows fresh signs (wet)
-You can still get fresh characteristics on bone after death (bc bone is still fresh)
-Absence of healing
-Still shows fresh signs (wet)
-You can still get fresh characteristics on bone after death (bc bone is still fresh)
Postmortem
-After death
-Dry characteristics
-Dry characteristics
Do we say anything about weight in a forensic report?
No- absolutely nothing!
Do we mention body build in a forensic report?
Possibly
-areas of muscle insertion are larger, robust/thicker
-areas of muscle insertion are larger, robust/thicker
Determination of Sex from Skeleton-Accuracy depends on:
-reference sample
-Number of bones available
-Number of bones available
Entire Skeleton:
90-100%
Pelvis:
90-95%
Skull:
80-90%
Long Bones:
80%
-Can look at muscle insertions and joints
-Can look at muscle insertions and joints
Determining Sex from Skeleton if you only have cranium or mandible?
-Becomes much more difficult
How many traits do we use to determine sex?
-As many as possible
Are we determining gender?
No
-We are only focusing on biological sex
-We are only focusing on biological sex
Hermaphrodite Case Study
Caster Semenya
Caster Semenya
-2009 World Championships (Gold-800 meters)
-18 yr old from rural South African village
-18 yr old from rural South African village
Questions regarding Semenya?
-Was she a woman?
-Steroids?
-Did she have a sex change operation?
*Ordered a gender test
-Steroids?
-Did she have a sex change operation?
*Ordered a gender test
Results to Semenya biological test?
-hermaphrodite
-male organs not visible
-allowed to keep gold medal and prize money
-male organs not visible
-allowed to keep gold medal and prize money
What literature do we have regarding a hermaphrodite skeleton?
-Nothing
-Potentially more male bc of testosterone-speculation
-Potentially more male bc of testosterone-speculation
Sexing a Subadult
-Sex differences do not show until after puberty
-Could do DNA test or material evidence
-Forensic Anthropologists do not assess sex of juveniles
-Could do DNA test or material evidence
-Forensic Anthropologists do not assess sex of juveniles
Postcranial Sexual Dimorphism
-begins in teen years
-One sex larger than the other
-Overall size and robusticity (robust vs. gracile)
-One sex larger than the other
-Overall size and robusticity (robust vs. gracile)
Postcranial Sexual Dimorphism Examples
-femoral and humeral head dimensions
-we could measure joint surfaces by themselves
-we could measure joint surfaces by themselves
Single Measurement
-Vertical diameter of the humeral head to determine sex
-Only use this when it’s all you’ve got
-May use to sort remains in disaster
-Only use this when it’s all you’ve got
-May use to sort remains in disaster
Vertical Humeral Head Measurements
-Females <43mm
-Sex Indetermination 44-46mm
-Males >47mm
Pelvic Inlet Shape
Females- wide and flaring iliac bones
Pelvic Inlet (Brim) Females
-Wider and oval from side to side
Pelvic Inlet (Brim) Males
-Narrow and heart shaped
Subpubic Characteristics- Females
Angle-Greater than 90° (U-shaped)
Sacrum- wider, shorter, flatter
Sacrum- wider, shorter, flatter
Subpubic Characteristics Males
Angle-Less than 90º
Sacrum-narrow, longer, curved
Sacrum-narrow, longer, curved
Greater Sciatic Notch
-Large notch on posterior aspect of pelvis
-narrower in males
-wider in females -approaches 90º
-narrower in males
-wider in females -approaches 90º
Pubic Area Technique for Sexing?
Phenice Technique
Phenice
-1969
-most reliable non-metric technique of pelvis
-most reliable non-metric technique of pelvis
Morphology of the Pubic Bone
(Phenice Technique)
(Phenice Technique)
1. Ventral Arc
2. Subpubic Concavity
3. Ischiopubic Ramus
2. Subpubic Concavity
3. Ischiopubic Ramus
Ventral Arc-Expression?
-expressed in females not males
Subpubic Concavity- Expression?
-Expressed in females, not in males
Ischiopubic Ramus-Expression?
-thick in males
-thin in females with ridge
-thin in females with ridge
What is the shape of the Ventral Arc (note only in females)?
-slightly elevated ridge of bone across the ventral surface
What is the shape of the Subpubic Concavity (note only in females)?
-A concave surface on the Ischiopubic ramus
What is the shape of the Ischiopubic (for females)?
-Ridge on medial aspect
Pubic Bone importance?
-Single most important bone for age, sex, and childbirth.
Female Pubis Shape
-rectangular and/or longer
Male Pubis Shape
-triangular and/or shorter
Where is the Auricular Area
-where the sacrum attaches
Male Auricular Surface
-flatter
Female Auricular Surface
-raised
