The forensic examination of wounds is one of the key elements of analysis performed by forensic anthropologists and forensic pathologists. Gross examination and histological analysis can be used to determine the timing of the wound and its cause. While forensic pathologists are trained to analyze hard and soft tissue wounds, forensic anthropologists, bioarchaeologists, and paleopathologists, focus on hard tissue. Forensic anthropologists have the added benefit of potentially working with residual soft tissue and would benefit from the incorporation of microscopy techniques that take advantage of the soft tissue to better understand perimortem events. Little research has been published that examines if any healing processes, the defining characteristic of an antemortem wound that do not progress beyond the time of death, are preserved within the tissues beyond death and how long they may be visible. The objectives of this study were to examine if the use of multiple stains will allow earlier visualization of healing processes in skeletal fractures than gross examination and to observe the length of time microscopic healing structures remain visible after death. A total of 224 slides from 19 specimens representing both fractured and un-fractured bones for control samples were taken from nine autopsied individuals at the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office and analyzed using four stains: Hemotoxylin and eosin (H&E), trichrome, Prussian blue, and elastin stain. Slides were analyzed using a set of 14 scored variables and evaluated with nonparametric statistical tests and cluster analyses. H&E, trichrome, and elastin stains were useful in examining wound age and survival time categories were significantly different for presence of elastin and presence of hemorrhage. H&E and trichrome stains proved useful for observing residual healing structures after death and time cohorts after time of autopsy were significantly different for 11 variables. Results from this study support further testing with larger sample sizes, including samples with a wider range of survival time, to better predict survival times of fractures and time since death.

Orientador: Eduardo Daruge Júnior / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-17T13:54:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tinoco_RachelLimaRibeiro_M.pdf: 2296528 bytes, checksum: 35dba26baf246615db8de57fcd81a76e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: Os traços não-métricos na morfologia dental, por sua excelente preservação, e variação inter-populacional livre de pressão seletiva, são reconhecidamente um dos principais focos de observação para os pesquisadores que analisam variação humana e sua relação com o histórico biológico das populações. Considerando sua utilização em contexto forense, o conhecimento das características morfológicas do arco dental da população local permite utilizar estes traços como critério adicional para identificação humana individual com fins periciais. Objetivo: O presente estudo propôs uma análise antropológica da morfologia dental de brasileiros, do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, entre 18 e 30 anos, observando a prevalência de alguns traços antropológicos não-métricos encontrados no arco dental de brasileiros, sua relação com os índices levantados por outros pesquisadores, em amostras de diferentes populações, e seu valor pericial como critério adicional na identificação humana. Metodologia: Foram analisados modelos em gesso de 130 indivíduos (59 homens e 71 mulheres), com os seguintes critérios de inclusão: naturalidade brasileira, com ascendentes brasileiros até segundo grau; presença de, no mínimo, dois elementos dentais hígidos, dentre os dentes-alvo; e ausência de relação de consanguinidade com outros participantes. Foi avaliada a presença de seis traços antropológicos, com frequências étnico-geográficas anteriormente publicadas por outros autores, sendo eles: incisivo em forma de pá, tubérculo de Carabelli, quinta cúspide (tubérculo distal acessório), ausência de cúspide disto-palatina, sexta cúspide (tuberculum sextum), e ausência de cúspide disto-vestibular (molar inferior tetra-cuspidado). Resultados: As frequências obtidas de todos os traços avaliados destoaram das frequências anteriormente apresentadas como referentes aos grupos ameríndio ou sulamericano. A amostra analisada possui pouca semelhança com o chamado complexo dental americano, e nítida influência dos complexos caucasóide e subsaariano, o que está de acordo com os acontecimentos históricos locais / Abstract: The non-metric traits in tooth morphology, for their excellent preservation, and inter-population variation, immune from selection pressure, are known to be one of the major sources of observation for researchers who analyze human variation and its relationship to the populations' biological history. In a forensic context, the knowledge of the local morphological characteristics allows its use as additional criterion for human identification purposes. Objective: This study has proposed an anthropological analysis of tooth morphology of Brazilian individuals from Rio de Janeiro, between 18 and 30 years, listing the prevalence of some anthropological non-metric traits, their relationship with frequencies found by other researchers, in different populations, and its value as additional criterion for in human identification. Methodology: The dental casts of 130 individuals (59 males and 71 females) were examined, with the following inclusion criteria: Brazilian naturality, with Brazilian ascendency until second degree, presence of at least two of the target-teeth healthy, and absence of blood relationship with other participants. We evaluated the presence of six non-metric dental traits with populational frequencies previously published by other authors, as follows: shoveling, Carabelli's cusp, cusp 5 (distal accessory tubercle), hypocone absence, cusp 6, and hypoconid absence. Results: The frequencies of all the traits evaluated differ from frequencies previously presented for Amerindian and South American. The sample has little resemblance to the so called american dental complex, and strong influence of the African Sub-Sahara and European patterns, which is in agreement with local historical events / Mestrado / Odontologia Legal e Deontologia / Mestre em Biologia Buco-Dental

Orientador: Eduardo Daruge Júnior / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-17T16:36:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lima_LaiseNascimentoCorreia_M.pdf: 1819162 bytes, checksum: 2ace530cff180f181238887bf0938c83 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: O índice de Carrea constitui uma importante ferramenta na estimativa da estatura humana, necessitando para sua aplicação apenas que alguns elementos dentais anteriores inferiores estejam preservados. No entanto, nos casos em que a mandíbula é acometida por um trauma, uma patologia ou por situações diversas, o uso da técnica torna-se inviável. Com isso, ampliar a utilização do índice de Carrea, estendendo-o aos elementos superiores, aumentaria as chances de se realizar o método, principalmente nos casos em que apenas o crânio é encontrado. Diante disso, o presente estudo teve como proposição testar um novo denominador no índice de Carrea, para que o mesmo possa ser utilizado no arco superior, visando um novo recurso para se estimar a estatura humana. Além disso, objetiva-se comparar os percentuais de acerto obtidos entre o arco inferior e superior. Para tanto, foi realizado um estudo com 378 modelos em gesso, sendo 189 superiores e 189 inferiores de arcos dentais correspondentes, pertencentes a alunos do curso de Odontologia da Universidade Federal da Paraíba, de ambos os sexos e com idades entre 18 e 30 anos. A estatura dos participantes foi estimada mensurando, com um paquímetro digital, os incisivos central e lateral e o canino, dos arcos superiores e inferiores, bem como dos hemiarcos direito e esquerdo. A partir dessas medidas, foram estimadas, por meio do índice de Carrea, as alturas máxima e mínima com base nos arcos inferiores. Para os arcos superiores foi utilizada uma modificação no denominador da fórmula original de Carrea, de valor 2 para o valor 2,55, de forma que a mesma se adequasse às medidas da maxila. Os valores obtidos foram comparados à estatura real dos participantes, previamente mesurada com um antropômetro. No arco superior, verificou-se diferença estatisticamente significante entre os posicionamentos dentais no sexo masculino e nos hemiarcos direitos, sendo os apinhados o maior percentual de acerto (65% e 65,2%, respectivamente). A avaliação interarcos proposta entre os sexos, para os três tipos de posicionamento dental, demonstrou percentual de acerto estatisticamente significante no sexo feminino entre os hemiarcos normais, com os inferiores apresentando percentual maior (70,0%) em relação aos superiores (42,3%). Já entre os hemiarcos, a diferença estatística pôde ser observada nos lados direito e esquerdo, apenas no posicionamento normal, com os inferiores demonstrando percentuais de acerto maiores (61,5% e 67,6%, respectivamente). Dessa forma, conclui-se que, embora o percentual de acertos no arco superior não tenha sido significante, o método poderá ser utilizado como subsídio para a estimativa da estatura / Abstract: Carrea's index is an important tool in human stature estimation, and requires for its use only some lower anterior teeth preserved. However, in cases of mandibular damage - by trauma, pathology or any other condition - the use of the method becomes impossible. Therefore, expand the use of Carrea's index, extending it to upper dental elements, increases the applicability of the method, especially in cases where only the skull is recovered. Thus, the present study aimed to test a new denominator for Carrea's index, so that it can be used in the upper jaw, which provides a new resource for human stature estimation. The study was conducted with 378 cast models - 189 higher and 189 lower arches - of dentistry students from the Federal University of Paraíba, of both sexes and aged between 18 and 30 years. The stature of the participants was estimated by measuring, with a digital caliper, the central and lateral incisors and canine from upper and lower arches, both sides. From these measurements, the maximum and minimum stature was estimated, according to Carrea's index. Moreover, it was aimed to compare the sucess rates between the upper and lower arches. For the upper arches a new denominator of Carrea's original formula, from 2 to 2.55, so it would fit the the maxilla's measures. The values obtained were compared to the real stature of the participants, previously measured with an anthropometer. In the maxillary arch, there was a statistically significant difference between the teeth alignment in males and in the right hemiarch, with the crowded hemiarches showing the greatest accuracy (65% and 65.2% respectively). The interarch evaluation proposed between the sexes, for the three types of dental alignment proved percentage of success statistically significant in females between the normal hemiarches, with the lower arch showing a higher percentage (70.0%) compared with the upper one (42.3%). Among the hemiarches, statistical difference was observed in right and left sides only in normal position, with the lower arch showing greater success rate (61.5% and 67.6% respectively). It can be stated that although the percentage of success in the upper arch was not significant, the method proposed can be used as additional criteria for the estimation of stature / Mestrado / Odontologia Legal e Deontologia / Mestre em Biologia Buco-Dental

O nariz, ocupando o terço médio da face, tem marcada influência cognitiva sobre a imagem facial. Constitui-se em grande parte por tecido cartilaginoso, músculos, pele e gordura, perdendo sua forma durante a decomposição cadavérica. A técnica de Reconstrução Facial no restabelecimento da aparência nasal pode influenciar o reconhecimento de um crânio sem identidade atribuível e tem sido alvo de numerosas críticas. Os métodos conhecidos para estimar essa projeção nasal a partir de elementos do crânio carecem de praticidade e reprodutibilidade. Neste estudo, buscou-se relacionar os pontos prosopométricos Rinio ( Rhi - ósseo), Pronasal ( Pn -no tecido mole) e Próstio (Pr ósseo) estudando o ângulo formado pelas retas que os unem, observando-se a possibilidade de sua utilização na determinação do comprimento nasal. Dois examinadores independentes e calibrados mensuraram esse ângulo com o auxílio do programa de análise e processamento de imagens Image J, versão 1.43; diretamente em radiografias cefalométricas selecionadas a partir do acervo de documentações em arquivos digitais de quatro Institutos de Radiologia Odontológica situados na cidade de São Paulo Brasil. Medidas lineares foram tomadas considerando a diferença do valor encontrado para o ângulo proposto e o valor hipotético de 90.00 graus. A amostra foi constituída por 600 radiografias laterais da cabeça (300 de indivíduos do sexo masculino com idade entre 24 e 77 anos e 300 do sexo feminino, com idade de 24 a 69 anos). Os dados foram analisados utilizando-se o programa Microsoft Office Excel 10.0. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que os valores referentes às mensurações de ambos examinadores foram muito próximos a uma relação linear perfeita (r=0.99). Ambos os sexos apresentaram a mesma distribuição de idades nas amostras. O ângulo proposto Rinio-Pronasal-Próstio apresentou valores entre 80.00° e 100.00° em ambos os sexos e para todas as idades. No sexo masculino, a distribuição da variável ângulo foi mais simétrica, centrada em 90.88 graus, enquanto no sexo feminino existiu uma maior freqüência de valores maiores ou iguais a 90.00 graus, com média de 92.89°. Para as medidas lineares a maior freqüência relativa na amostra feminina foi de 0.31 mm e na masculina 0.32 mm, ou seja, cada grau de diferença entre o ângulo real mensurado e o ângulo sugerido de 90.00° correspondeu em medida linear a aproximadamente 0.31 mm. Sendo os pontos prosopométricos Rinio e Próstio de fácil localização no crânio, o cruzamento das retas que passam por esses pontos determinam o ponto Pronasal como vértice desse ângulo. Diante dos resultados obtidos, considerou-se possível a utilização do valor de 90.00° para o ângulo Rhi-Pn-Pr na determinação da projeção nasal em brasileiros adultos. / The nose, occupying the middle third of the face, has a marked cognitive influence on facial image. It consists largely of cartilage tissue, muscles, skin and fat, and loses its shape during cadaveric decomposition. The technique of facial reconstruction to restore nasal appearance can influence the recognition of a skull that has no assignable identity and has been the subject of much criticism. The known methods of estimating nasal projection using elements of the skull are lacking in practicality and reproducibility. In this study, we attempted to relate the prosopometric points Rhinion (Rhi, bone), Pronasale (Pn, soft tissue) and Prosthion (Pr, bone) by studying the angle formed by straight lines that connect them, noting the possibility of its use in determining the length of the nose. Two independent and calibrated examiners measured this angle with the help of analysis and image processing software, Image J, version 1.43, directly from cephalometric radiographs, which had been selected from a collection of documentation from the digital archives of four Dental Radiology institutes, located in São Paulo Brazil. Linear measurements were taken by taking into consideration the difference of the value found for the proposed angle and the hypothetical value of 90.00 degrees. The sample consisted of 600 lateral radiographs of the head (of 300 males aged between 24 and 77 years and 300 females, aged 24 to 69 years). The data were analyzed using Microsoft Office Excel 10.0. The results showed that the values for the measurements of both investigators were very close to a perfect linear relationship (r = 0.99).Both gender had the same age distribution. The proposed Rhinion-Pronasale-Prosthion angle varied from 80.00° to 100.00° in both genders and all ages. In males, the distribution of the angle was more symmetrical, centered at 90.88 degrees, while in females there was a higher frequency of values greater than or equal to 90.00 degrees, with a mean of 92.89°. For the linear measurements, the highest relative frequency of the female sample was 0.31 mm and for the male sample it was 0.32 mm that is, each degree of difference between the actual measured angle and suggested one of 90.00° corresponded to the linear measure of about 0.31 mm. Because the Rhinion and Prosthion prosopometric points are easy to find in the skull, the crossing of lines that pass through these points determine the Pronasale point as the apex of the angle. Considering the results obtained, it was possible to use the value of 90.00° for the angle Rhi-Pn-Pr in order to determine nasal projection in Brazilian adults.

Orientador: Eduardo Daruge Júnior / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-22T00:08:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Benedicto_EduardodeNovaes_M.pdf: 742104 bytes, checksum: 688ab07ea41c624dc0fb3c07c825128a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: O resumo poderá ser visualizado no texto completo da tese digital / Abstract: The abstract is available with the full electronic document / Mestrado / Odontologia Legal e Deontologia / Mestre em Odontologia Legal e Deontologia

Orientador: Eduardo Daruge Júnior / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-24T06:12:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Delwing_Fabio_M.pdf: 1987964 bytes, checksum: 4ad3cc80c3766bfb9a12434aea4d168c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: A determinação sexual é fundamental para se estabelecer a identificação de pessoas através de restos ósseos, e juntamente com a estatura, a idade e a ancestralidade, fornecem os parâmetros do perfil biológico dos indivíduos. A pelve, o crânio, e os ossos longos são os locais em que os dimorfismos mais se fazem presentes. Desta maneira, a necessidade de métodos confiáveis para se distinguir homens e mulheres baseados nesses conjuntos de ossos torna-se evidente. Objetivo: O presente estudo propôs uma análise antropológica de crânios brasileiros, do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, através de mensurações de pontos craniométricos na busca de determinismo sexual e seu valor pericial como critério adicional na identificação humana. Metodologia: Foram analisados 216 crânios humanos (113 masculinos e 103 femininos), com idade superior a 22 anos à data da morte, íntegros, sem sinais de traumatismos ou anomalias notórias. Foram realizadas um total de onze medidas lineares em cada crânio e foram submetidas a tratamento estatístico para avaliação de dimorfismo sexual. Resultados: Com a exceção das medidas largura nasal e násio-bregma, todas as demais mostraram diferenças estatísticas significantes entre os sexos. Dentre elas, a que se apresentou mais dimórfica foi a distância bizigomática. Foram propostas quatro funções discriminantes neste trabalho, alcançando uma probabilidade de acerto quanto ao sexo de 90% quando foram utilizadas as seguintes medidas: nasio-espinha nasal anterior, bizigomática e násio-ponto E. Conclusão: Através das medidas testadas e das funções propostas foi possível determinar o sexo dos indivíduos com um alto grau de confiabilidade / Abstract: The discrimination of sex is central to the process of establishing a personal identification from human skeletal remains and in conjunction with stature, age and ancestry provides parameters of biological profile of the deceased. The pelvis, skull, and assorted long bones, generally provide the most accurate sex allocations. The need for reliable methods distinguishing males from females based upon these skeletal elements is evident. Objective: The present study was an anthropological analysis of brazilians skulls, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, through measurements of craniometric points in search of sexual determinism and its value as an additional criterion in forensic human identification. Methodology: A total of 216 human skulls (113 male and 103 female), older than 22 years old at the time of death, undamaged and out of signs of trauma or noticeable abnormalities, were used in this study. A total of eleven linear variables were taken from the skulls and they were submitted to statistical tests to evaluate sexual dimorphism. Results: Except for the nasal width and nasion to bregma distance, all other measurements showed significant statistical differences between male and female. The best single parameter discrimination was the bizygomatic width. From these measures, were proposed four discriminant functions analysis. The best discrimination was achieved with the combination of three measurements: nasion to anterior nasal spine, bizygomatic width and nasion to point L, reaching an accuracy of 90% to determine sex of the sample. Conclusion: Using these measures and proposed functions was possible to determine sex of individuals with high degree of reliability / Mestrado / Odontologia Legal e Deontologia / Mestre em Biologia Buco-Dental

Correct race and sex determination of unknown skeletal material is an important aspect of forensic anthropology. Numerous studies have focused on the differences, both osteometric and morphological, between the sexes of a particular racial phenotype, between race groups, and populations. From previous work by a variety of researchers, the necessity of population specific standards for identification has been demonstrated. The purpose of this research was to examine the metric and morphological differences in the pelvis between the sexes and races of South African whites and blacks. Results will be used in developing standards of identification tailored to this population. A sample of 400 known sex/race os coxae were examined. Skeletal material was obtained from the Pretoria collection housed at the University of Pretoria, Department of Anatomy and the Dart collection located at the University of Witwatersrand, Department of Anatomical Sciences. A series of thirteen measurements and five morphological characteristics were examined. Indices were calculated from data obtained from the metric analysis. Left and right sides were examined and those bones visibly pathologically deformed were excluded from the study. Data were subjected to SPSS stepwise and direct discriminant analysis. Results showed ischial length as the most sexually dimorphic characteristic in whites, while acetabulum diameter was best in blacks. Four functions (using pelvic dimensions) were developed for determining sex. Highest accuracies were achieved from function 1 (including all dimensions) which correctly classified 92-96% of individuals. Race differences were also investigated. Pubic length was chosen as best for discriminating between races for males and iliac breadth as best in females. Accuracies were 86-89% for males and 82-88% for females. Accuracies for sex discrimination were consistent with earlier studies. Morphological results yielded >80% accuracy for all traits in white males except greater sciatic notch shape where only 33% were correctly classified. A population specific variation in sciatic notch shape was observed where >50% of the white males had a wide sciatic notch previously thought to be a female expression. Black males recorded 81 % correct classification for pubic shape and >90% for the remaining characteristics. Greater sciatic notch and pubic bone shape achieved highest accuracies with 96% for both traits in white females, and 84% and 88% in black females respectively. In conclusion, this study conclusively demonstrates that race and population differences affect the expression of sexual dimorphism and must be accounted for to develop the most effective methods of analysis. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2001. / Anatomy / unrestricted

This study examined the differences in decomposition rates and the resulting postmortem submergence interval (PMSI) of stillborn pigs and decapitated adult pig heads enclosed in plastic trash bags. Sixteen neonate pigs were divided into two variable categories: exposed and submerged in water, enclosed in a plastic trash bag and submerged in water. Upon recovery, each sample was assigned a Total Body Score. Eighteen decapitated adult pig heads were divided into two variable categories: nine heads were enclosed in plastic trash bags, and nine heads left exposed in the water. Twelve decapitated pig heads were divided into two terrestrial variable categories: six heads were enclosed in plastic trash bags and allowed to decompose on land, and six heads were left exposed on land. Accumulated degree-days (ADD) were calculated following the scoring guides provided in Moffatt et al. (2016), Megyesi et al. (2005) and Heaton et al. (2010). These guides were used to create a baseline decomposition rate established from the control groups decay rate. This baseline in the decomposition rate was then used to establish a measurable difference between exposed and enclosed samples. It was hypothesized that head samples submerged (enclosed/exposed) would decompose slower than the terrestrial samples (enclosed/exposed). It was further hypothesized that all enclosed/submerged samples would decompose slower than the exposed/terrestrial remains. A univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) test found no statistically significant interactions between submerged, enclosed or exposed remains, indicating that the enclosure of remains in a plastic trash bag, and subsequent submergence or not did not affect the decomposition rate of either sample. An additional ANOVA found statistically significant differences between the rate of neonate sample decomposition and adult head sample decomposition. Paired sample t-tests produced statistically significant results that indicate the inaccuracy of the ADD calculation methods developed by Megyesi et al. (2005) and Heaton et al. (2010) to neonate-sized remains, decapitated heads, submerged enclosed/exposed samples or terrestrial enclosed/exposed samples.

Orientador: Horácio Faig Leite / Banca: Michelle Cardoso de Sousa / Banca: Luiz Eduardo Blumer Rosa / Resumo: Sabe-se que o processo mastoide (PM) tem sido utilizado como uma característica diferencial entre crânios de espécies diferentes e mesmo entre os sexos. Muitos são os métodos utilizados para se diferenciar os processos mastoides masculinos dos femininos. Tal diferenciação é muito importante na antropologia física e na forense. Neste trabalho foi utilizada a metodologia empregada por Hoshi (1962) na qual classifica os PM segundo a sua curvatura. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a aplicabilidade desta metodologia. Foram utilizados 305 crânios humanos identificados segundo o sexo, grupo étnico e idade, pertencentes ao Museu de Crânios da Disciplina de Anatomia Descriptiva e Topográfica da Escola Paulista de Medicina - UNIFESP. Os resultados obtidos foram submetidos à análise estatística (análise descritiva e teste quiquadrado) e constatou-se que as inclinações do tipo M (70,87%) são estatisticamente típicas do sexo masculino, enquanto as inclinações do tipo N (47,47%) e F (36,36%) são encontradas nos crânios femininos, sendo suas incidências estatisticamente significativas, demonstrando que as inclinações dos tipos N e F caracterizam, na amostra em questão, os crânios femininos. Os resultados alcançados demonstraram que o método desenvolvido por Hoshi é aplicável e de fácil execução / Abstract: It is known that the mastoid process (PM) has been used as a differential feature among skulls of different species and even between the sexes. Many are the methods used to differentiate the male mastoids from the female ones. Such a difference is very important in physical anthropology and forensics. In this work we use the methodology used by Hoshi (1962) in which it classifies PM according to its curvature. The objective of this work was to verify the applicability of this methodology. 305 skulls were used, identified by sex, ethnic group and age, belonging to the Museum of Skulls of the Discipline of Anatomy at the Paulista School of Medicine - UNIFESP. The results obtained were submitted to statistical analysis (descriptive analysis and chi-square test) and it was verified that the M-type inclinations (70.87%) are statistically typical of the male sex, while the N-type inclinations (47.47%) and F (36.36% ) are found in female skulls, and their incidence is statistically significant, demonstrating that the N and F inclinations characterize female skulls in the sample. The results showed that the method developed by Hoshi is applicable and easy to implement / Mestre

Sex and ancestry are most commonly estimated by anthropologists using the skull. Typically, measurements and observations are taken on the skull itself, but for the purpose of convenience, computed tomography (CT) scans are increasingly used in place of skulls in research and forensic casework. Researchers work under the assumption that the dry skull-to-CT scan ratio is one-to-one; however, research on the accuracy of CT scans is sparse. In this study, eight skulls from the Boston University Donated Skeletal Collection were scored for sex and ancestral morphological traits following Buikstra and Ubelaker (1994) and Hefner and Ousley (2014), and measured using standard cranial measurements according to Langley et al. (2016). CT scans were then taken of the eight skulls and the same morphological observations and measurements were taken using the RadiAnt 5.5.1 CT viewer. Additionally, the measurements of each skull and scan were entered into FORDISC 3.1, a software program that provides discriminant functions for the processes of sex and ancestry estimation. The measurements for each dry skull-CT scan pairing were then analyzed for variance and mean differences. The results of the morphological and metric analyses indicate that the majority of the data gathered from dry skulls did not vary significantly from the measurements taken on the CT scans. The morphological sex estimation resulted in the same estimation for each skull-to-CT scan pairing; however, the morphological ancestry estimation results indicated that skeletal information lost in CT scans can make full visualization and therefore assessment of the facial region difficult. The FORDISC 3.1 results generally support the indication that there is not a significant difference between skull and CT scan measurements, with consistent sex estimation results for each dry skull-to-CT scan pairing and consistent ancestry estimation results for the majority of the pairings. However, the sex and ancestry estimations were not always accurate considering the true ancestral backgrounds of the individuals. Based on these outcomes, it is evident that CT scans can be used to obtain reliable morphological assessments and measurements of a skull, which can then be used to estimate sex using FORDISC 3.1. However, to ensure accuracy of the sex and ancestry estimations, other methods should be used in conjunction with FORDISC 3.1.