Skeletal Anatomy

• Language matters


  Language helps us communicate<|>It standardises ideas<|>Can be confusing if you don't know it
• Anatomy needs a standardised, descriptive language


  That can be understood around the world<|>Vital for clear communication in an investigation
• The language of bones

  Latin and Greek terms as its base<|>Terminologia Anatomica, 2019. Published online in April 2011
• Anatomical position


  Standing<|>Palms forward<|>Feet together and forward
• Basic terms


  • Left and right
  • Superior and inferior
  • Proximal and distal
  • Anterior and posterior
  • Medial and lateral
• PROXIMAL


  Closer to the point of attachment or the centre of the body
• DISTAL


  Further from the point of attachment or the centre of the body
• MEDIAL


  Nearer the midline of the body
• LATERAL


  Further from the midline of the body
• Anatomy


  • Cranial
  • Post-cranial
• Skull anatomy


  • Skull
  • Mandible
  • Cranium
  • Splanchnocranium (facial skeleton)
  • Neurocranium
• Post cranial anatomy


  • Axial
  • Appendicular
  • Long bones (large movements)
  • Short bones (complex movements)
  • Flat bones (protection)
  • Sesamoid bones (within tendons)
  • Irregular bones
• Planes


  • Transverse
  • Coronal
  • Sagittal
• Dorsal and ventral


  Do not mean the same as 'anterior' and 'posterior'
• Unless you are very sure of yourself, use the simpler terms!
• Bits of words


  • Before, in front of: Ante-, pro-, pre-
  • After, behind: Post-
  • Above, over, excessive: Super-, supra-, hyper-
  • Below, under, deficient: Infra-, hypo-, sub-
  • Against, opposite: Contra-, anti-
  • Within: Intra-, endo-
  • Outside of: Ecto-, exo-, extra-
  • Bone, bony: Osteo-, osseo-
• Bits of words


  • Before, upon, outside of: epi-
  • Between: inter-
  • Relating to the jaw: gnatho-
  • Straight: -ortho-
  • Little: -(i)cle
  • Equal: iso- or equi-
  • Relating to shape: morpho-
  • Around, surrounding: peri- or circum-
• Words


  • Diaphysis, epiphysis
  • Eminence, process, tubercle, tuberosity
  • Articulation, facet, condyle
  • Suture
  • Line, crest, ridge
  • Styloid, hamulus, spine
  • Groove, sulcus, canal, fossa,
  • Foramen, meatus, sinus, canal
  • Gracile, rugose
  • Manual, pedal, orbit
• What might these features look like? Where might they be? What are they describing?
• Protocol


  The accepted or established code of behaviour in any group, organization, or situation<|>The method or procedure for carrying out an investigation
• Clyde Snow (Jan 1928 – May 2014)
• Expert witness testimony: Argentina 1985, Yugoslavia 1998, Iraq 2006
• Annual Review of Anthropology (1982) 11:97-131
• Snow (1982)


  • Human/non-human?
  • MNI?
  • Time since death?
  • Age?
  • Sex?
  • Ancestry?
  • Stature?
  • Trauma/disease
  • Cause/ manner of death
• Current analysis


  • Archaeological/forensic
  • Sex depends on ancestry
  • Age depends on sex
  • Stature depends on sex and ancestry
  • Not cause of death (why?)
  • Manner of death (one of five) - sometimes
• Snow (1982) plus additions

  • Human/non-human
  • MNI
  • Time since death (post-mortem interval)
  • Archaeological/forensic
  • Ancestry
  • Sex
  • Age
  • Stature
  • Trauma/disease
  • (Manner of death)
• Skeletal elements


  • Skull
  • Mandible
  • Vertebra
  • Sternum
  • Clavicle
  • Scapula
  • Humerus
  • Radius
  • Ulna
  • Carpals
  • Metacarpals
  • Manual phalanges
  • Rib
  • Innominate
  • Sacrum
  • Femur
  • Patella
  • Tibia
  • Hyoid
  • Fibula
  • Tarsals
  • Metatarsals
  • Pedal phalanges
• White, T. and Folkens, P. (2005) Human Bone Manual. Elsevier Science and Technology, San Diego
• Chapter 4.1 Bone Biology and Variation.