CFC Forensic Anthropology & Skeletal Analysis 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which cranial feature has traditionally been used to estimate adult age at death, though it is considered a rough indicator with high individual variability?
- Mastoid process size
- Cranial suture closure (Correct answer)
- Nasal bone morphology
- Orbital margin sharpness
Correct answer: Cranial suture closure
Cranial suture closure (ectocranial and endocranial) has long been used to estimate adult age at death, as sutures fuse progressively with advancing age, though variability limits precision.
Question 2: The pubic symphysis is used by forensic anthropologists primarily to estimate which biological parameter?
- Biological sex
- Ancestry
- Age at death (Correct answer)
- Stature
Correct answer: Age at death
The pubic symphysis undergoes predictable morphological changes throughout adulthood and is one of the most reliable skeletal indicators for estimating adult age at death.
Question 3: Which dental characteristic is most reliable for estimating age in subadult skeletal remains?
- Occlusal tooth wear patterns
- Dental root transparency
- Dental development and eruption sequence (Correct answer)
- Cementum annulation counting
Correct answer: Dental development and eruption sequence
Dental development and eruption sequence follow a predictable biological schedule and are highly accurate for age estimation in subadults, making them the preferred method for children and adolescents.
Question 4: The sternal (medial) end of which rib is commonly used as an age indicator in adult skeletal remains due to progressive morphological degeneration?
- First rib
- Fourth rib (Correct answer)
- Seventh rib
- Twelfth rib
Correct answer: Fourth rib
The sternal end of the fourth rib undergoes progressive morphological changes including pit formation and rim degeneration that correlate with age and are commonly used for adult age estimation.
Question 5: Osteon counting (histomorphometry) is a microscopic method used to estimate which biological parameter from cortical bone sections?
- Ancestry estimation
- Biological sex
- Age at death (Correct answer)
- Stature reconstruction
Correct answer: Age at death
Osteon counting measures the density of secondary osteons in cortical bone, which increases with age due to continuous bone remodeling, providing a histological method for adult age estimation.
Question 6: Which computer program uses discriminant function analysis of cranial measurements to statistically estimate ancestry from skeletal remains?
- FORDISC (Correct answer)
- MNI calculator
- Suchey-Brooks phase software
- CODIS database interface
Correct answer: FORDISC
FORDISC is a specialized computer program that applies discriminant function analysis to craniometric data to estimate ancestry and sex from skeletal remains using comparative population databases.
Question 7: The auricular surface of the ilium is used in forensic anthropology primarily to estimate which biological parameter?
- Biological sex
- Stature
- Ancestry
- Age at death (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Age at death
The auricular surface of the ilium undergoes characteristic age-related morphological changes and is used alongside the pubic symphysis to estimate adult age at death from pelvic remains.
CFC Forensic Anthropology & Skeletal Analysis 2
Which cranial feature has traditionally been used to estimate adult age at death, though it is considered a rough indicator with high individual variability?