ANTH Forensic Anthropology 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A forensic anthropologist notes squared eye orbits and a wide nasal aperture. These traits are used to estimate what?
- Age at death
- Ancestry (Correct answer)
- Time since death
- Cause of death
Correct answer: Ancestry
Nonmetric cranial traits such as orbit shape and nasal aperture width contribute to ancestry estimation.
Question 2: The Phenice technique evaluates three features of which bone to estimate sex?
- Cranium
- Os pubis (pubic bone) (Correct answer)
- Femur
- Scapula
Correct answer: Os pubis (pubic bone)
Phenice's method assesses the ventral arc, subpubic concavity, and medial ramus of the pubis.
Question 3: Adipocere formation on a body indicates what about the depositional environment?
- Hot and arid conditions
- Moist, anaerobic conditions (Correct answer)
- Exposure to open air
- Freezing temperatures
Correct answer: Moist, anaerobic conditions
Adipocere (grave wax) forms when body fat saponifies in damp, oxygen-poor environments.
Question 4: Which dental feature is commonly used to help estimate age in subadult remains?
- Tooth wear facets
- Dental eruption sequence (Correct answer)
- Enamel color
- Number of fillings
Correct answer: Dental eruption sequence
The predictable timing of tooth formation and eruption makes dentition a strong age indicator in children.
Question 5: Sharp-force trauma on bone is typically characterized by what?
- Radiating concentric fractures
- Narrow, linear cuts with clean walls (Correct answer)
- External beveling
- Plastic bending
Correct answer: Narrow, linear cuts with clean walls
Cutting or stabbing implements leave narrow incisions with relatively smooth, defined margins.
Question 6: The forensic anthropologist's role at a scene primarily complements which official's work?
- Prosecuting attorney
- Medical examiner or coroner (Correct answer)
- Crime scene photographer
- Defense investigator
Correct answer: Medical examiner or coroner
Forensic anthropologists assist the medical examiner or coroner in analyzing skeletal remains.
Question 7: Antemortem bone changes such as healed fractures are useful chiefly for what?
- Estimating time since death
- Positive identification (Correct answer)
- Determining ancestry
- Sexing the remains
Correct answer: Positive identification
Healed injuries and skeletal anomalies compared to medical records aid individual identification.
ANTH Forensic Anthropology 3
A forensic anthropologist notes squared eye orbits and a wide nasal aperture.
These traits are used to estimate what?