Accessory tympanic plate ossicle: a new osteological entity.

The auricular cartilage, which is typically soft and flexible, can calcify or ossify because of diseases such as diabetes mellitus, trauma, radiation therapy for cancer, and more commonly from frostbite. Calcified, ossified, or hardened auricular cartilage is a rare finding in the clinical literature and appears to be absent in the physical and forensic anthropological literature. This study examines the ossified auricular cartilage and tests whether the hypothesis can be identified in postmortem skeletonized tissue and be part of the external auditory meatus. A total of 290 crania were examined for accessory ossicles. A descriptive and interpretative analysis was performed grossly, histologically, and morphometrically to document the morphology and location of the ossicles, investigate their structure, and perform hypothesis testing. Results revealed that seven females and one male crania from a total of 290 crania (2.76%) exhibit semi-ossified auricular cartilage attached to the tympanic plate of the temporal bone. The morphology and location of the ossicles at the junction of the auricle and external auditory meatus indicate they are hardened auricular cartilage that was verified with histological observations. Regression analysis indicates that addition of the ossicle to the depth of the auditory tube significantly changes coefficient of determination (R2) with respect to cranial breadth. In conclusion, results indicate that small cartilaginous structures of the external ear may ossify forming accessory tympanic plate ossicles that potentially could be identified in skeletal remains as a new osteological entity. This report highlights the types of information that can be gained using an approach that integrates forensic anthropology, gross anatomy, and histology.

The importance of human osteological collections: Our past, present, and future.

The thesis of this brief exposition is the absolute and immediate necessity of preserving existing osteological collections. Once lost, they can never be replaced. They are priceless, historically and culturally. Each collection is unique, in content and in scientific value. No one collection is complete, or replicates any other. These collections are separated by space and by time, by geography and by epoch. They preserve our past, as well as our understanding of human variation. They help us to better understand the human condition and contribute to the advancement of many disciplines including: anthropology, medicine, surgery, anatomy, history, and, undeniably, forensic anthropology. In spite of their uniqueness, all osteological collections face similar challenges: cultural norms and sensitivities, funding, space limitations, and competing priorities. This article provides a succinct overview of several private and public collections around the world, the challenges of preservation, and the benefits of their salvation. The skeletal collections described here are but a sample of what is, and of what may be lost. Anything more would require a book. Anything less would be an irreplaceable and tragic loss.

Sweet tooth: DNA profiling of a cranium from an isolated retained root fragment.

Sampling of healthy multi-rooted teeth is recommended for the genetic identification of human skeletal remains. However, this may not always be possible, as in the reported case consisting of an isolated human cranium found in an aggregate crushing and processing plant in Piedmont, Northwest Italy. The cranium displayed significant weathering, suggesting a post-mortem interval of several years, and was edentulous with the exception of the apical root fragment of the upper left canine, consequence of an antemortem horizontal fracture. Prolonged decalcification of the root fragment followed by powder-free DNA extraction from ~10 mg of root tip tissue led to the recovery of >10 ng of high molecular weight human DNA, in comparison with ~0.01 ng of DNA per mg of bone powder obtained from the petrous portion of the temporal bone. Quantity and quality of DNA isolated from apical tooth tissue enabled multiple genotyping, including a reportable female STR profile, mitochondrial DNA analysis, and ancestry-informative insertion/deletion polymorphisms. Although the cranium remained unidentified after DNA comparisons, our findings confirm that apical tooth tissue is a promising source of DNA, easily obtained through a powder-free extraction protocol. Results also indicate that root tips should not be overlooked in challenging identification cases, even in the presence of compromised tooth specimens.

Medical School Hotline: A New Osteological Resource at the John A. Burns School of Medicine.

The Mann-Labrash Osteological Collection of the University of Hawai'i is the newest collection of contemporary known-identity human skeletal remains in the United States. The collection, consisting of the partial or complete remains of individuals of European, African, Asian, and Pacific Islander ancestry, is an invaluable educational and research resource for medical students and visiting researchers. The collection reflects the population diversity of Hawai'i. The Mann-Labrash Osteological Collection provides a unique and irreplaceable resource for medical students and scientists interested in anatomy, disease, trauma, developmental defects, and biological diversity, particularly as they pertain to Hawai'i and the people of Polynesia.

Non-metric traits and anatomical variants that can mimic trauma in the human skeleton.

This paper presents some of the more commonly encountered non-metric traits and minor anatomical variants in the adult human skeleton that can mimic or be mistaken for trauma. Distinguishing non-metric traits is contingent upon both a knowledge of potential non-metric traits as well as the normal developmental timing, location, and anatomy of maturational markers in the human skeleton. Distinguishing non-metric traits from trauma in dry bone is an essential component in establishing an accurate and thorough forensic analysis of human remains, especially as it deals with antemortem and perimortem trauma, and postmortem damage.

Endocranial illuminator: A technique for transilluminating the skull.

A novel tool, the endocranial illuminator (EI), has been devised to facilitate examination of the interior of the intact human cranium. A number of the endocranial characteristics including cranial thickness, sutural complexities, and foramina are easy visible with this device. The EI enhances the accuracy of anatomical examination of the cranial vault in forensic, archaeological, and historical crania in those cases where they must remain intact. The EI is simple and inexpensive to construct and lightweight so it can be used in the laboratory or easily transported in the field.

Biparietal Thinning: Accidental Death by a Fall from Standing Height.

Biparietal thinning resulting in bilateral and symmetrical resorption and loss of thickness of the parietal bones is an uncommon to rare condition in the anthropological and clinical literature. This enigmatic condition of unknown etiology was first reported in the 18th century and has been variously described as a nonmetric trait, anatomical variant, anomaly, and pathology. Biparietal thinning presents grossly and radiographically as oval-shaped depressions in 0.25-0.8% and 0.4-0.5% of individuals and with a higher frequency in females over the age of 60 years. A review of the literature revealed only one example of cranial trauma associated with biparietal thinning and none of fatal trauma associated with this condition. This case reports a rare example of fatal trauma in an elderly man that resulted from a backward fall from a standing height and highlights the increased risk of craniocerebral trauma in individuals with this condition.

A method for defleshing human remains using household bleach.

Medical examiners and forensic anthropologists are often faced with the difficult task of removing soft tissue from the human skeleton without damaging the bones, teeth and, in some cases, cartilage. While there are a number of acceptable methods that can be used to remove soft tissue including macerating in water, simmering or boiling, soaking in ammonia, removing with scissors, knife, scalpel or stiff brush, and dermestid beetles, each has its drawback in time, safety, or potential to damage bone. This technical report using the chest plate of a stabbing victim presents a safe and effective alternative method for removing soft tissue from human remains, in particular the chest plate, following autopsy, without damaging or separating the ribs, sternum, and costal cartilage. This method can be used to reveal subtle blunt force trauma to bone, slicing and stabbing injuries, and other forms of trauma obscured by overlying soft tissue. Despite the published cautionary notes, when done properly household bleach (3-6% sodium hypochlorite) is a quick, safe, and effective method for examining cartilage and exposing skeletal trauma by removing soft tissue from human skeletal remains.

A method for articulating and displaying the human spine.

An inexpensive and effective method for articulating a dry human spine is described. By constructing a Styrofoam spine tray, analysts can now accurately position and align each vertebra in correct anatomical order, allow for gaps because of missing vertebrae, and lay out the spine for documentation and photography. The spine tray provides analysts with a quick, easy, and professional quality method for aligning and orienting the human spine in the field and laboratory.

Relationship of the parietal foramen and complexity of the human sagittal suture / Relación del foramen parietal y la complejidad de la sutura sagital humana

The purpose of this paper is to report on the relationship between the parietal foramen and complexity of the human sagittal suture. Examination of 110 Japanese human skulls (males=67, females=43) with at least one parietal foramen revealed that the sagittal suture in the area of the Obelion was the simplest portion (i.e., fewest interdigitations and shortest length) of the suture (paired t-test, P<0.0005), when compared to the outstretched suture length of three established sections: 1. Parietal foramen section (P); 2. Anterior to section P (B); and 3. Posterior to section P (L). Sutural complexity was also compared between individuals with unilateral foramen (n=48) and bilateral foramina (n=62) to see if there was a statistically significant difference. The results revealed a slight difference in section P (ANOVA Bonferroni, P<0.05), denoting that the sagittal suture at the Obelion in individuals with unilateral parietal foramen is more complex than in individuals with bilateral foramina. While no difference in sex was noted, this simplicity in part likely reflects redirected bone stresses around a circular opening resulting in reduced tensile stresses and increased compressive stresses adjacent to the parietal foramen. This phenomenon warrants additional research and has implications for bone biomechanics and development of the cranial sutures.

El propósito de este trabajo es informar sobre la relación entre el foramen parietal y la complejidad de la sutura sagital en humanos. Se examinaron 110 cráneos humanos de individuos japoneses (hombres = 67, mujeres = 43) con al menos un foramen parietal, revelando que la sutura sagital en el área del obelion fue la parte más simple (es decir, menos interdigitaciones y menor longitud) de la sutura (vinculado la prueba t, p <0,0005). Cuando se comparó la extensión de la longitud de la sutura se establecieron tres secciones: 1. Sección foramen parietal (P); 2. Anterior a la sección P (B), y 3. Posterior a la sección P (L). La complejidad de la sutura también fue comparada entre los individuos con foramen unilateral (n = 48) y forámenes bilaterales (n = 62) para ver si había una diferencia estadísticamente significativa. Los resultados revelaron una ligera diferencia en la sección P (ANOVA Bonferroni, P <0,05), que indica que la sutura sagital a nivel del obelion en los individuos con foramen parietal unilateral es más compleja que en los individuos con forámenes bilaterales. Si bien no hubo diferencia según sexo, esta simplicidad en parte, probablemente refleja la redirección de las fuerzas del hueso alrededor de una abertura circular, lo que reduce la resistencia a la tracción y aumenta la fuerza de compresión adyacente al foramen parietal. Este fenómeno justifica la investigación adicional y tiene implicaciones para el desarrollo óseo y biomecánica de las suturas craneales.

Corroboration of in vivo cartilage pressures with implications for synovial joint tribology and osteoarthritis causation.

Pressures on normal human acetabular cartilage have been collected from two implanted instrumented femoral head hemiprostheses. Despite significant differences in subjects' gender, morphology, mobility, and coordination, in vivo pressure measurements from both subjects covered similar ranges, with maximums of 5-6 MPa in gait, and as high as 18 MPa in other movements. Normalized for subject weight and height (nMPa), for free-speed walking the maximum pressure values were 25.2 for the female subject and 24.5 for the male subject. The overall maximum nMPa values were 76.2 for the female subject during rising from a chair at 11 months postoperative and 82.3 for the male subject while descending steps at 9 months postoperative. These unique in vivo data are consistent with corresponding cadaver experiments and model analyses. The collective results, in vitro data, model studies, and now corroborating in vivo data support the self-pressurizing "weeping" theory of synovial joint lubrication and provide unique information to evaluate the influence of in vivo pressure regimes on osteoarthritis causation and the efficacy of augmentations to, and substitutions for, natural cartilage.

The forensic anthropologist

Following a general description of forensic anthropology, the authors try to make a case that forensic anthropologists are important in mass disasters to help identify bodies in particularly bad condition such as after fire, mutilation or explosion