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SKELETAL ANATOMY

المؤلف:  Max M. Houck، Jay A. Siegel

المصدر:  Fundamentals of Forensic Science

الجزء والصفحة:  191

2026-07-14

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SKELETAL ANATOMY

Before describing the human skeletal anatomy, we need to discuss the proper handling of human remains. Most people encounter skeletons only on Halloween or at a costume party. Given that they are potent symbols of death (which is what they rep resent in those contexts), it is only natural that people feel nervous or anxious when presented with the real thing. The urge to gesture, joke around, or taunt others with a bone or skull is simply a way of expressing that unease, by laughing at “the Grim Reaper.” What must be kept in mind, however, is that the material being handled was once part of a human being, like yourself, with a life, family, feelings, and dignity. Additionally, every specimen is unique and irreplaceable, so care must be taken with how it is handled. Bones should always be held over a table, preferably with a padded or protected surface. The skull is of special consideration due to its delicacy and centrality to a forensic examination. The bones of the nose and the eye orbits and also the teeth are fragile. The skull should be handled by the sides and base in both hands with a firm grasp. As the noted osteologist Tim White says, “Common sense and both hands should always be used” . Figure 1 shows the human skeleton in a variety of anatomical views. The cranial skeleton refers to the skull only; everything else is called the postcranial skeleton (meaning below the cranial skeleton). The axial skeleton describes the spine (vertebrae), ribs, and breastbone (sternum). The grouping of either upper limb bones (including the shoulder) or lower limb bones (excluding the pelvis) is called the appendicular skeleton.

FIGURE 1 —cont’d