Study Guide

Learning Quest 4: Bones and Identity

Objectives Assessed:

1.2.U3 The specific structure of bone reveals information about a person’s gender, stature, age, and ethnicity.1.2.U4 The length of long bones in the human body can be used to mathematically predict the overall height of an individual.1.2.S3 Recognize that differences in bone structure contribute to a person’s unique identity.1.2.S4 Recognize that there is a relationship between the length of long bones and the overall height of an individual.1.2.S6 Identify and locate bones of the human skeletal system.1.2.S7 Interpret bone markings, bone landmarks, and bone measurements to determine a person’s gender, age, stature, and ethnicity.

Guiding Questions

You should be able to:

Measure sub-pubic angle using a protractor and determine pelvic cavity shape to determine sex.

Measure the length of a long bone using a caliper. Measure bone dimensions using a Vernier caliper. Determine sex and race using character tables. Use height equations and bone length measurements to predict height. Identify a long bone as a femur, humerus, or tibia based solely on appearance. Evaluate skull characters including nasal silling, nasal index, nasal spine prominence.

Sample Questions:

1. Given the following data, determine the sex of the skeleton: Trait Result Female Male

Sub-Pubic Angle 112º > 90° < 90°

Pubis Body Width 35 mm ~ 40 mm 25-30 mm

Greater Sciatic Notch 68º > 68° < 68°

Pelvic Cavity Shape wide Circular and wide, showing mainly

coccyx

Heart-shaped, showing sacrum and

coccyxFinal Sex Determination: ________________________

Study Guide

2. Is the following pelvis most likely male or female?

Female MalePelvic Cavity Shape Circular and wide,

showing mainly coccyx

Heart-shaped, showing sacrum and

coccyx

3. Which of the following bones is a tibia? (Circle one)

4. What are the three racial groups used to classify skeletal remains?

Sex Determination:

Figure 2Figure 1

Figure 3

Study Guide

5. Determine the race of the skeleton based on the nasal spine character shown below:

White Asian BlackProminent spine Somewhat

prominent spineVery small spine

Race: ___________________

6. The radius does not contribute directly to a person’s height. Explain why it can be used to estimate height anyway.

7. Calculate the nasal index by measuring the skull image below.

Nasal Width ______ ---------------------------------- = Nasal Index _______ Nasal Height _______

Study Guide

8. Mr. Smith is a white man with a femur measuring 43 cm. Use the equation below to estimate his height. Report your final answer in meters.

Height = 2.32 (MLF) + 65.53 cm ± 3.94 cm

1 m = 100 cm

9. How does bone structure relate to a person’s unique identity?

10. List one way your bone structure has contributed to who you are as a person.