Identification of Human Beings Flashcards Preview

Principles of Disease > Identification of Human Beings > Flashcards

Flashcards in Identification of Human Beings Deck (8)
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1
Q

What is the purpose of identifying the dead?

A
  • human rights
  • civil law
  • closure for families
  • assessment of injuries
2
Q

What is involved in identification?

A
  • visual inspection

- specialist analysis e.g. anatomists/anthropologists or DNA testing

3
Q

How can sex be determined?

A
  • sexual dimorphism of skeleton

- examination for prostate gland/testes or uterus/ovaries

4
Q

How can age be determined?

A
  • bone development using ossification centres in fetus/neonates
  • assessment of epiphyses in children/adolescents
  • ageing by teeth proves most valuable factor
5
Q

Why is it difficult to determine stature?

A
  • people may not have had their height measured accurately in life
  • however, the lower limb is the most useful for calculation of height
6
Q

What can make IDing easier?

A

when there is a possible identity available to compare

7
Q

How can a persons medical history be of use?

A
  • history of deformities, arthritis, gallstones
  • surgical procedures: surgical implants or prostheses, pacemakers, old fractures, removal of organs
  • tattoos, particularly names
8
Q

What personal identifiers are there?

A
  • fingerprints
  • dental records
  • DNA profiling