Study Guide

Learning Quest 4: Bones and Identity

Objectives Assessed:
1.2.U3 The specific structure of bone reveals information about a persons gender, stature,
age, and ethnicity.
1.2.U4 The length of long bones in the human body can be used to mathematically predict
the overall height of an individual.
1.2.S3 Recognize that differences in bone structure contribute to a persons unique identity.
1.2.S4 Recognize that there is a relationship between the length of long bones and the
overall height of an individual.
1.2.S6 Identify and locate bones of the human skeletal system.
1.2.S7 Interpret bone markings, bone landmarks, and bone measurements to determine a
persons gender, age, stature, and ethnicity.
Guiding Questions

You should be able to:

Measure sub-pubic angle using a protractor and determine pelvic cavity shape to
determine sex.
Measure the length of a long bone using a caliper.
Measure bone dimensions using a Vernier caliper.
Determine sex and race using character tables.
Use height equations and bone length measurements to predict height.
Identify a long bone as a femur, humerus, or tibia based solely on appearance.
Evaluate skull characters including nasal silling, nasal index, nasal spine prominence.

Sample Questions:

1. Given the following data, determine the sex of the skeleton:

Trait
Result
Female
Male
Sub-Pubic Angle 112
> 90
< 90
Pubis Body Width 35 mm
Greater Sciatic
Notch
Pelvic Cavity
Shape

68
wide

~ 40 mm

25-30 mm

> 68

< 68

Circular and
wide, showing
mainly coccyx
Final Sex Determination: ________________________

Heart-shaped,
showing sacrum
and coccyx

Study Guide
2. Is the following pelvis most likely male or female?

Sex Determination:

Female
Circular and
wide, showing
mainly coccyx

Pelvic Cavity Shape

Male
Heart-shaped,
showing sacrum
and coccyx

3. Which of the following bones is a tibia? (Circle one)

4.

Figure 2

Figure 1

What
are the three
groups used to classify skeletal remains?

Figure 3

racial

Study Guide
5. Determine the race of the skeleton based on the nasal spine character
shown below:
White
Prominent
spine

Asian
Somewhat
prominent
spine

Black
Very small
spine

Race: ___________________

6. The radius does not contribute directly to a persons height. Explain

why it can be used to estimate height anyway.

7. Calculate the nasal index by measuring the skull image below.

Nasal Width ______
---------------------------------- = Nasal Index
_______
Nasal Height _______

8. Mr. Smith is a white man with a femur measuring 43 cm. Use the
equation below to estimate his height. Report your final answer in
meters.
Height = 2.32 (MLF) + 65.53 cm 3.94 cm

Study Guide
1 m = 100 cm
9. How does bone structure relate to a persons unique identity?

10.
List one way your bone structure has contributed to who you are
as a person.