Forensic Art

Question 1

forensic art

Answer 1

• application of art to medicolegal context
• used to generate leads
• not a means of positive ID
• both an art and a science

Question 2

forensic artists

Answer 2

• creative/artistic talent
• knowledge of anatomy
• understand scientific research in the field
• require knowledge of biological info

Question 3

superimposition

Answer 3

• overlay an image of a skull and an antemortem image

- use osteometric points/landmarks to align

Question 4

photo superimposition

Answer 4

use 2-D photograph and unknown skeletal remains

Question 5

video superimposition

Answer 5

• use camera and electronic video mixing board and unknown skeletal remains
• use computers and digital imaging equipment and unknown skeletal remains

Question 6

2-D forensic art

Answer 6

• ID living suspects, age missing persons
• usually based on witness recollections
• depicts facial features
• done freehand or with a computer

Question 7

facial reconstruction

Answer 7

• ID skeletal remains
• artistic reproduction of soft tissue features when no soft tissues is present
• based on biological profile
• done freehand or on the computer

Question 8

3-D facial approximation

Answer 8

-relies on known or estimated traits such as the biological profile, average tissue thickness, anatomical knowledge of muscle and gland thickness, and anatomical relationships of facial features

Question 9

how is tissue death measured?

Answer 9

• cadaver studies (needle depth, post-mortem tissue)

- ultrasounds on the living (CT, MRI, preferred method)

Question 10

what are the techniques for 3-D facial approximation?

Answer 10

• start with the skull or cast
• apply tissue-depth markers
• roll clay to depth of tissue marker
• apply clay
• contour voids