Warm-upWarm-up

Does anyone know why weight lifting can build stronger bones and prevent osteoporosis?

You will need to know: 1) What is forensic anthropology?2) How can bones be used to identify age? Sex?3) What bones are best for identifying age and sex for adults? Children?4) Use a conversion table to estimate the height of an individual.5) Define antemortem, perimortem, and postmortem.6) Know the name and location of the long bones (ulna, radius, femur, etc.)

ObjectiveObjective

Use knowledge of how bones heal to determine whether an injury occurred antemortem, perimortem, or postmortem.

AgendaAgenda

How bones heal

Reading Activity

Antimortem, Perimortem, & Postmortem injuries

Reading ActivityReading Activity

Read the 1st paragraph. What is the difference between antemortem,

perimortem, and postmortem?

Read the remainder of the 1st page What is a “green” bone? Which stage (antemortem, perimortem, or

postmortem) do we see impressions from tools?

Reading ActivityReading Activity

Read the next 2 paragraphs (p. 2) What are the two wrist injuries mentioned in

the article?

Read the rest of the article. How can we distinguish perimortem from

postmortem when analyzing bones?

Healing Nature of Healing Nature of BonesBones

Bones have the ability to heal

Key Players: Osteoclasts – break down bone Osteoblasts – build new bone Chondroblasts – build new tissue

http://www.exogen.com/physicians/how-it-works/

InflammationInflammation

1) Fracture Hematoma forms – helps keep the bones aligned & cuts off oxygen from the fractured bone (killing it)

Source: http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/human-biology/heal-broken-bones.htm

Soft CallusSoft Callus

Several days later, the fracture hematoma turns into a soft callus Fibroblasts develop collagen & chondroblasts

begin developing fibrocartilage Transforms from soft callus to fibrocartilage

callus – bridges gap between bones (3 wks)

Source: http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/human-biology/heal-broken-bones.htm

Bone Callus (Hard Bone Callus (Hard Callus)Callus)

Formation of the bone callus Osteoblasts begin building new bone 3-4 month process Provides enough stability for the bone to finish

healing

Source: http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/human-biology/heal-broken-bones.htm

RemodelingRemodeling

Not done yet… Osteoclasts and Osteoblasts spend months

remodeling the bone by replacing bone callus with compact bone

Overtime, remodeling reduces the bulge

Weight-liftingWeight-lifting

Weight-lifting causes small fractures to occur in our bones, but DON’T panic!

These fractures signal osteoclasts to come remove the damaged bone and osteoblasts to build new bone.

Overtime, you end up with stronger, healthier bones!

Also, remember, the more muscles your have, the more bone you need at your joints to hold those muscles, further strengthening your bones.

TerminologyTerminology

Antemortem – before death

Perimortem – occurs at time of death

Postmorem – occurred after death

AntemortemAntemortem

Injuries that involve Bruising –occur only while the heart is beating Healing – which would not occur without time

for the living body to repair the injury.

Bone remodeling – bulge from an old fracture

Healed FracturesHealed Fractures

History in the bonesHistory in the bones

Often anthropoligists are asked to determine whether an injury occurred antemortem, perimortem, or postmortem

Antemortem injuries could show signs of long time abuse, old fractures, and recent injuries

Why might a forensic anthropologist be interested in antemortem injuries?

Rib started to growRib started to growaround the .22 caliber around the .22 caliber

bullet.  That's antemoretembullet.  That's antemoretem

AmputationsAmputations

Not all antemortem fractures are from accidents or attacks Ex: Amputation – partial healing of bone, but

not enough living tissue to regenerate the bone.

Perimortem InjuriesPerimortem Injuries

Occur at time of death – often provide evidence of cause of death &/or murder weapon

Weapons can leave imprints in perimortem injuries

Occur without the body attempting to heal (bruising, clotting, etc.)

What this means…What this means…

Bones have no time to heal, so fractures are clean and sharp

As seen in the bones of an American Indian woman who was hit by a truck

The trauma from the impact shattered her femur 

Machete Wounds, African Machete Wounds, African MaleMale

Hammer Hammer WoundsWounds

Injuries that occur perimortem often leave impression from weapon.

PostmortemPostmortem

These injuries usually occur when bodies are moved or by environmental factors.

Fractures are jagged and rough, with a random breaking pattern.

If there is time…If there is time…

Teeth