Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Anthropology > Spark 3rd Exam > Flashcards

Spark 3rd Exam Flashcards

1
Q

Why should more caution be taken when using the skull to provide sex determination rather than the pelvis?

A

The skull has a 96% with pelvis while you get a 92% with skull accuracy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Differentiate between the male and female adult human skull using the cranial morphology scoring technique described in Buikstra and Ubelaker’s Standards for Data Collection from Human Skeletal Remains (1994).

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Differentiate between male and female adult humans using metric methods, as described in lectures.

A

This is used to measure the, Humeral head maximum diameter, Femoral head maximum diameter, Humeral epicondylar width:
< 41.5 mm = female
41.5 - 43.5 mm = ?female
43.5 - 44.5 mm = unknown
44.5 - 45.5 mm = ?male
> 45.5 mm = male

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Why is it generally ill-advised to attempt to estimate biological sex in subadult skeletal remains?

A

Prepubertal bodies exhibit little sexual dimorphism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Despite reservation, describe one way to differentiate between male and female subadult humans using the greater sciatic notch, as described in lectures.

A

Greater sciatic notch angle is greater than 90 degrees in female juveniles
Broader greater sciatic notch in females

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Why are DNA analyses not the most common way to determine the biological sex of human skeletal remains?

A

It is difficult and expensive.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

List and describe the two broad age categories in humans.

A

Adults and subadults

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What difficulties complicate age at death determinations?

A

Biological age (physiological age) and chronological age (time since birth) are inter-related, but biological age is affected by activity, diet, disease so , age estimation in subadults more precise than adults

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

List and describe the age classes as proposed by Buikstra and Ubelaker (1994)

A

Fetus (before birth)
Infant (0–3 years)
Child (3–12 y)
Adolescent (12–20 y)
Young adult (20–35 y)
Middle adult (35–50 y)
Mature adult (50+ y)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How are age-at-death determinations typically assessed in fetal remains?

A

Reference tables, regression equations are used to determine age of death

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Describe the age determination method described by Adalian et al. (2002)

A

Adalian used the equation 0.434 × femoral length (in mm) + 6.93 which gives us the death in weeks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Describe typical age-at-death determination methods in subadult remains using dental developmental indicators.

A

compare developmental stage of teeth with reference charts
Formation occurs from crown to root
Tooth eruption rates are more useful than tooth formation stages
If no Stage H development for third molar, then under 18 years old

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

List common human fontanelles

A

Anterior, Posterior, Sagittal, Mastoid, Sphenoid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

When does sagittal fontanelle obliteration occur?

A

When birth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

By what age are 38% of fontanelles closed?

A

By 12 months

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

By what age are 96% of fontanelles closed?

A

By 24 months

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Describe typical age-at-death determination methods in subadult remains using endochondral ossification and epiphyseal fusion.

A

For endochondral ossification we can tell a subadults age by how much the cartilage as ossified (closed). As for epiphyseal fusion anthropologist can see how old a child is by how much the epiphysis has fused with the diaphysis.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Define epiphyseal fusion

A

union of primary and secondary ossification centers at a growth plate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Summarize milestones occurring during various subadult age classes

A

Infancy:
* Birth: primary ossification centers
0-2 years:
* Deciduous dental formation and eruption
1-2 years:
* Fontanelles close
4-6 years:
* Formation of permanent teeth
7-12 years:
* Eruption of permanent teeth
* Secondary ossification centers
* Adolescence
* Eruption of teeth and epiphyseal
fusion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

List typical age-at-death determination methods in adult remains

A
  1. Cranial suture closure
  2. Sternal rib-end morphology
  3. Auricular surface morphology
  4. Pubic symphysis morphology
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Describe the Suchey-Brooks system of age determination, including advantages and limitations of the method

A

Observable pubic symphysis changes classified into six phases for each sex
Young: billowing
Middle: distinct rim
Mature: degeneration
Advantages:
Casts available for visualization
Multiple confidence intervals
Limitations:
Overlapping stages
Less accurate for +40 yrs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Describe the Lovejoy auricular surface morphology method of age determination, including advantages and limitations of the method

A

Observable auricular surface
changes classified into eight phases
Young: fine grained surface; billowing
Middle: coarse surface; microporosity
Mature: dense, disorganized surface;
macroporosity
Advantage: auricular surface is
more likely to be preserved than
pubic symphysis
Limitation: more difficult

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Describe the sternal rib ends method of age determination

A

Age-related changes at the sternal end of the right fourth rib

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Describe the cranial suture closure method of age determination

A

Assess degree of fusion for vault and lateral-anterior cranial suture segments
As the skull gets older the more the line disappears

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

List the three stages of forensic case analysis

A

What is it?
How old is it?
What is the taphonomic context?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What are taphonomic research facilities?

A

Outdoor labs using donated human cadavers to study decomposition in a variety of conditions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What benefits do taphonomic research facilities provide?

A
  • Interdisciplinary, research-driven,
    longitudinal studies across
    different geographic areas
  • University-level research which
    expands disciplinary knowledge
  • Training opportunities for
    anthropologists, law
    enforcement, death investigators
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Describe the components of the Forensic Anthropology Center at the University of Tennessee

A
  • Anthropology Research Facility (ARF)
    Dr. William Bass established the world’s first
    “Body Farm” in 1980
  • Bass Donated Skeletal Collection (DSC)
    Largest collection of contemporary Americans
    Body donation → Intake → ARF → DSC
  • Forensic Anthropology Data Bank (FDB)
    Contains demographic information, metric data,
    pathological conditions
    Database is used by the FORDISC ancestry estimation software program
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Define the following terms: decomposition, autolysis, putrefaction

A

Decomposition - body begins to decay
Autolysis – postmortem breakdown of cellular material via ‘self-digestion’ by enzymes
Putrefaction – anaerobic breakdown of macromolecules by symbiotic bacteria

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Describe postmortem changes beginning 0-2 hours after death

A
  • Pallor mortis – paleness
  • Bowel release
  • Tâche noire de la sclérotique – dark discoloration of the eye
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Describe postmortem changes beginning 1-4 hours after death

A
  • Hypostasis– gravitational pooling of
    blood (AKA livor mortis)
  • Algor mortis – body temperature
    equilibration
  • Rigor mortis – muscle stiffness
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

The stages of decomposition are based on which two factors?

A

based on gross changes and arthropod activity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Provide caveats to using a staging system of decomposition

A
  • Multiple stage systems
    exist, with slight variations
  • Certain changes could
    appear earlier, later, or
    never during decomposition
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Describe the lifecycle of the typical blow fly

A

It begins with an egg, then turns into the 1st instar, 2nd instar, and 3rd instar, into pupa and finally into an adult fly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

List and describe the stages of decomposition, as discussed in lectures

A

Fresh: Flies attracted to the body
Active Decay: Discoloration, Bloat, Odor, Maggots
Advanced Decay: Beginning skeletonization, Extensive insect activity
Skeletonization: Greater than 50% exposure, Beetles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

Define the following terms: skin slippage, marbling, bloat, fluid purge, cadaver decomposition island, desiccation

A

Skin slippage: the outer layers of the skin start to separate or slide off from the underlying tissue
Marbling: web-like lines when the body dies
Bloat: the body begins to fill up with carbon dioxide and methane
Fluid purge: leakage of fluids due to the breakdown of tissues and the buildup of gases
Cadaver Decomposition: the area around a decomposing body where changes occur due to the breakdown of the body
Desiccation: When a body loses its moisture and dries out

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

Define the following terms: arrested decay, mummification, saponification

A

Arrested decay: stopping or slowing down decomposition
Mummification: aridity (complete loss of moisture) preserves soft tissue
Saponification: anaerobic (no oxygen) and alkaline (basic pH)
environments convert body fat to adipocere (waxy, soap-like
substance)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

What is a sokushinbutsu?

A

practice of Buddhist monks deliberately mummifying themselves while still alive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

Describe the process of becoming a sokushinbutsu

A

Monks have a diet, only bark, seeds, and nuts. Then they drink tea from the sap of a tree. Then the monk is put into a coffin underground with a bell that they ring to make sure they’re still alive. Once the bell stops ringing then other monks check to see if their mummified or it decomposed.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

Provide historical examples of individuals whose bodies exhibit arrested decay

A

Chinchorro mummy, Tollund Man, Soap Lady, Otzi, the Iceman

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

What is kusôzu?

A

They are images of a decaying corpse. It portrays the decomposition of a human body in a series of stages, usually in graphic and detailed ways

42
Q

A forensic anthropologist has been provided of a set of human skeletal remains. What information about the taphonomic history of the remains might be revealed when analyzing the postmortem skeletal modifications?

A
  • Depositional context
  • Biological taphonomic agents
  • Transport and dispersal
  • Cause and manner of death
43
Q

What is subaerial bone weathering?

A

Decomposition of hard tissues as a response to natural agents in their immediate environment over time

44
Q

List aspects of the depositional environment which impact the degree of weathering bone may exhibit.

A
  • Solar radiation
  • Wet-dry cycle
  • Freeze-thaw cycle
  • Heat-cool cycle
  • Mineral crystallization
  • Previous coffin burial
45
Q

List and describe the stages of bone weathering, as discussed in lectures.

A

Stage 0: Bone shows no sign of cracking
Stage 1: Bone starts to crack, parallel to fiber structure
Stage 2: More noticeable cracks
Stage 3: Large cracks, might appear rough
Stage 4: The bone is rough in texture, some bone is falling off and having small openings
Stage 5: Bone is falling apart

46
Q
A
47
Q

Humans may serve as taphonomic agents. What does that sentence mean?

A

Humans can change how what happens to a body or other organic materials after death

48
Q

List four categories of humans as taphonomic agents

A
  • Criminal activities
    Dismemberment, thermal
    alterations, etc.
  • Funerary practices
    Embalming, cremation, cemetery
    burial
  • Alteration for cultural purposes
    Anatomical teaching remains
    Contemporary ritual remains
    Trophy remains
  • Damage occurring during field
    recovery, handling, and laboratory
    analysis
48
Q

What are trophy remains?

A

Human remains are preserved, and often displayed or kept as mementos or symbols of victory, conquest, or achievement

48
Q

List taphonomic categories of trophy remains

A
  • Original acquisition (ex: perimortem
    trauma)
  • Ornamental alteration (ex: writing)
  • Curation damage (ex: shelf wear)
49
Q

What is the ancestry conundrum?

A

Most anthropologists state that “race is a social construct” lacking scientific validity. Yet, forensic anthropologists continue to provide estimations of ancestry (‘race’) based on the analysis of skeletal remains

50
Q

Of the four main parameters of the biological profile, which is the least applied parameter?

A

Ancestry

51
Q

Provide the anthropological definition of ancestry (biological affinity)

A

geographic region or ancestral origin of an individual

52
Q

Anthropologists commonly divide ancestry into which three categories?

A

European, Asian, African

53
Q

List common methods used to assess ancestry

A

Morphoscopic (shape)
Craniometric (size)
Other methods
Postcrania
Dental
DNA

54
Q

Define trait list

A

set of characteristics or features used to categorize, compare, or describe different groups of people

55
Q

Why are trait lists not considered best practice when assessing ancestry?

A

They are subjective, inaccurate, oversimplified,

56
Q

Are trait lists used commonly by forensic anthropologists to assess ancestry?

A

Yes

57
Q

What are macromorphoscopic (MMS) trait analyses?

A

apply cranial MMS traits scores to classification models with statistical frameworks

58
Q

Define the following terms: character, character state, character score

A

Character - categories of morphological features (traits)
Character states - recorded variations of a character
Character scoring - assign a number to each character state

59
Q

List seven cranial MMS traits as defined by Hefner (2009, 2014) and described in course lectures

A

Orbital shape, Anterior nasal spine, Inferior nasal aperture, Nasal bone contour, Interorbital breadth, Nasal aperture width, Nasal overgrowth

60
Q

What is a discriminant function analysis (DFA)?

A

used to classify data into different groups based on a set of measurable features

61
Q

Are morphoscopic discriminant function analyses used commonly by forensic anthropologists to assess ancestry?

A

Yes

62
Q

How do DFA models work, using ancestry assessment as an example?

A

It builds a predictive model for group
membership

63
Q

What is machine learning?

A

An artificial intelligence that teaches computers to learn without explicit programming

64
Q

Which category of machine learning models shows the most promise when assessing ancestry?

A

Supervised Learning

65
Q

How do machine learning classification models work, using ancestry assessment as an example?

A

Supervised learning trains a computer model on known input (MMS scores) and known output (ancestry) data to make predictions Classification models classify input data into categories (European, African, Asian)

66
Q

Provide important caveats that must be considered when using analytical tools to classify human skeletal remains into “races”

A

Genetic ancestry markers, biological ancestry, and “social race” of an individual may not match

67
Q

Describe the process of assessing ancestry using cranial MMS traits and Hefner’s (2014) discriminant function equations

A

Hefner (2014) provides discriminant function equations using 7, 5, and 3 variables (cranial MMS traits)

68
Q

Describe the process of assessing ancestry using cranial MMS traits and the hefneR app

A

Same individual, same MMS scores Different analytical tool (Naïve Bayesian analysis), different ancestry categories
Using this classification model, the individual has a 48.59% chance of being Asian

69
Q

Describe the process of assessing ancestry using cranial MMS traits and the macromorphoscopic databank (MaMD)

A

Uses an artificial neural network to classify an unknown cranium into a reference group. The reference data are housed in the Macromorphoscopic Databak

70
Q

List two types of craniometric analysis methods

A

Indices – generally not advisable
Craniometric discriminant function analyses

71
Q

Are craniometric indices used commonly by forensic anthropologists to assess ancestry?

A

Yes

72
Q

Are craniometric discriminant function analyses used commonly by forensic anthropologists to assess ancestry?

A

Yes

73
Q

What is FORDISC?

A

It is software using discriminant
functions to assess ancestry

74
Q

How does a forensic anthropologist use FORDISC to assess ancestry of skeletal remains?

A

FORDISC identifies the most probable ancestry of the unknown individual based on the reference sample

75
Q

Describe the utility of each of the following results pages to interpreting FORDISC results: measurement comparison page, classification table page, case classification page.

A

Measurement comparison page: helps you understand whether your sample’s measurements are typical or atypical
Classification table page: helps you understand which groups your sample is closest to in terms of skeletal measurements
Case classification page: gives you the final result of the analysis

76
Q

Define posterior probability

A

likelihood of belonging to the respective group

77
Q

Define typicalities

A

distances of the case from the respective group mean

78
Q

Is FORDISC used commonly by forensic anthropologists to assess ancestry?

A

Yes

79
Q

If an individual is typical for a group (≥ 0.05) and has a high posterior probability for it, then can a forensic anthropologist assume that it is likely to belong to that ancestry group?

A

Yes

80
Q

Identify various methods used to estimate living stature in skeletal remains

A

Measurement of the skeleton in the grave
Anatomical methods
Mathematical methods

81
Q

How does a forensic anthropologist obtain the total length of long bones? Be specific when describing how to obtain the total length of the tibia.

A

They make sure it is on a flat surface, identify the bones ends, and use a measurement device. As for the tibia

82
Q

How does a forensic anthropologist obtain the physiological length (bicondylar length) of the femur?

A

Identify key landmarks and measure

83
Q

How does a forensic anthropologist obtain the physiological length of the tibia?

A

Measure before the spines and before the medial malleolus, the weird point at the bottom

84
Q

Describe the process of stature estimation using anatomical methods

A

To get someone’s height, you add up the lengths of all the bones that contribute to height, like the leg bones and spine. Then you add a bit extra for the muscles, skin, and other soft parts.

85
Q

Provide advantages to using anatomical methods.
Provide limitations to using anatomical methods

A

Advantages
Not dependent on sex or ancestry
More accurate with less bias
Limitations
Requires excellent skeletal
preservation
Time consuming

86
Q

Describe the Fully method of stature estimation.
Which measurements are taken for this method?

A

Obtain measurements
Cranial height
Vertebral heights
First sacral segment height
Femur bicondylar length
Tibia total length
Talus and calcaneus,
articulated height
Sum all measurements
Add soft tissue correction

87
Q

How does a forensic anthropologist use mathematical methods to obtain stature?
Differentiate between univariate and multivariate regression formulae

A

Estimate stature from one or more bones using a regression equation
Univariate regression formula – measures one bone
Multivariate regression formula – measures multiple bones for that formula

88
Q

Under what circumstances does the forensic anthropologist use the total length of the long bone when using mathematical methods of stature estimation?
When should the physiological length of the bone be used?

A

They use it often and the physiological length of the bone is used when measuring the tibia.

89
Q

Describe the process of stature estimation using regression
formulae.
Provide tips to increase the likelihood of success

A

used to estimate things like a person’s height from the length of their bones
Do not average measurements
obtained from different formulae
Where possible, use a formula with the same sex, ancestry, and temporal cohort as the forensic sample
When choosing a bone(s) to
measure, use the formula with the
smallest standard error

90
Q

What special considerations should be made when attempting to obtain living stature using the following skeletal elements:
- fragmentary limb bones
- skeletal elements other than limb bones
- skeletal elements with pathological conditions
- non-skeletal elements
- subadult skeletons
- mature adult skeletons

A

Fragmentary Limb Bones - reduced accuracy
Skeletal elements other than limb bones - generally not advisable
Skeletal elements with pathological conditions - provide caveats or exclude
Non-skeletal elements - materials have been used
Subadult skeletons - generally not advisable
Mature adult skeletons - stature decrease

91
Q

Describe explanations for inconsistencies between stature estimates based on skeletal remains and known stature based on antemortem stature records

A

Biased self reports
Out of date records
Misreported

92
Q

Describe explanations for inconsistencies between stature estimates based on skeletal remains and known stature based on measuring antemortem stature

A

Differing measurement techniques
Circadian variation

93
Q

Describe explanations for inconsistencies between stature estimates based on skeletal remains and known stature based on measuring cadaveric stature

A

Missing Soft Tissue
Post-Mortem Changes
Biological Variability

94
Q

At which three locations did forensic anthropologists work to identify human remains following the 9/11 attacks?

A

Temporary body collection point near Ground Zero
Fresh Kills landfill site on Staten Island
Temporary mortuary at the NYC OCME

95
Q

What was one of the forensic anthropologists’ primary responsibilities as part of the multidisciplinary identification efforts?

A

help identify human remains

96
Q

What activities were performed at the Fresh Kills forensic site?

A

process debris and search for human remains

97
Q

What was the primary role of the FBI?

A

search for evidence (black boxes, hijacker weapons, etc.)

98
Q

What was the primary role of the anthropologists?

A

distinguish human remains from other materials

99
Q

Describe the process of identifying human remains at the OCME temporary morgue.

A
  • Human remains transported from Ground Zero and Fresh Kills
  • Held in preprocessing refrigerated trailer
  • Initial assessment at triage station
  • Escorts transfer remains to specialist teams
  • ME examination
  • Contents documented, photographed, sampled for DNA analysis
  • Potentially other teams
100
Q

Where are human remains stored until repatriation?

A

stored at the World Trade Center Memorial Repository

Anthropology (3 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions