What's The Body Count?

You have finally reached the last Question ! :D Just one more step, and you're closer to solving the case.

Here is the question. 

"QUESTION 3

From the story above so far, how many victims are there? Explain."  

If you enjoy Maths, you'll love this question! :P Alright, it's only simple Maths. We'll give you a moment to analyze and think. 

Sit down and put your thinking cap on!

If you have got the answer, do continue reading as we will discuss the answer with you!

Based on the story given, you can conclude that there is at least one victim which is a young male child. If so, in mathematical terms, the number of victims is one or more than one.

no. of victims  ≥ 1

The answer is quite ambiguous as there is insufficient evidence and hence, we cannot state the exact number of victims.

So, why can we safely conclude that there is one or more than one victim? Firstly, there are evidences to confirm that there is at least one victim. Parts of a skull and skeleton remains were found and by analyzing the evidences at first sight, it can be concluded that it is a male child. 

HOW & WHY a male child, you asked? Well, obviously a child skull is generally smaller in a child compared to the adult. The sutures on the skull plays important role in determining the approximate age of skull. It doesn't end here just yet, the tooth eruption as well gives us clue on the approximate age of the skull. And that's how we get to the hypothesis that the skull is suspected to be a child's. Confused? Click here for better understanding as we guide you along, it's easy peasy!

Next, more than one victim is also a possible answer as we have mentioned earlier which is due to the insufficient evidence. The crime scene investigation unit has not completely search the perimeter for body parts or any other human remains, so the exact body count cannot be determined at the moment. With time, we will be able to find out the exact number of victims by conducting more investigations and collecting more solid evidences.

Alright, that's all we have for you! We hope you have enjoyed reading Part 1 of the story and had an awesome time tackling the questions given by us :) 

Stay tune for the Part 2 of the story ! You're going to be in for a surprise! ;)

Here's something you can try while waiting for the next part of the story :) Have fun !

http://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/games/the-first-48.html

MALE CHILD?

The two words above says it all. We are here to find out the sex and the age of the skull discovered by Dr. Rudi in our given case.

Firstly, let us determine the sex.

Well, it is generally not possible to give a gender to the skull, as it has not passed puberty and is starting to show some of the characteristics appropriate to its sex. Since the hormones are yet to wake up and carry out their amazing jobs, the sex of the child is nowhere near to be identified.

Next, we come to an interesting point.

Does the skull belong to a child? As the child is still in the progress of growing, the skull is generally smaller in a child compared to the adult. However, how do we determine the age of the skull? The sutures on the skull play a big role in terms of determining the approximate age of a skull. In terms of the sutures, as we grow older, the sutures ultimately completely “fill in”. The less filled in, the younger the person is. This means that aging has a habit of making us all a bit more hard-headed; this explains a lot about your teachers . . .

Picture adapted: http://www.clipart.com


The picture below shows development of skull.

Picture adapted: http://www.boneclones.com/

In terms of infants, we can determine the age in weeks fairly accurately by examining the development of the skull. However, as the infant grow and the baby teeth start erupting from the gum (gingiva), the tooth development is another great evidence to determine the age of the skull.

Why you might ask, is tooth development playing an important role here? Don’t the teeth get themselves out anytime? NO! Teeth don’t erupt whenever they like to, the eruption takes place in a chronological order. Don’t forget that we are the Forensic Dentists now, so we are supposed to study the tooth development too! Without any delay, let’s get this started!!

Pictures below show the primary and permanent dentition with the tooth names, and eruption dates as well as shedding dates.

Picture adapted: http://www.bennettdentalgroup.com/faq.html

Picture adapted: http://www.drchetan.com/dentalpics/dental-pics/dentition/permanent-teeth/

The term dentition is used to describe the natural teeth in the jaws. There are two dentitions in a person’s entire life: primary (deciduous) and permanent dentition. A child’s primary dentition develops even before birth and consists of 20 teeth, which erupt and are later shed. As the primary teeth are shed and the jaws grow and mature, the permanent dentition, consisting of as many as 32 teeth, gradually erupts and replaces the primary dentition. An overlapping period between the primary and permanent dentition during the preteen years is referred to as the mixed dentition period, when the child has some teeth from both dentitions.

Don’t worry if you can’t memorize the names and dates in this short time. A professional doesn’t gain his knowledge in a day, so it takes years of studies and experiences for a Forensic Dentist to identify the age of the skull. Here are some pictures showing the skull age based on the sutures and tooth development, hopefully they’ll be of great help to you in studying!

This skull of a child shows a dental eruption pattern consistent with that of a 6-7-year-old. Although composed predominately of primary (deciduous) teeth, the jaws contain a mixed pattern of dentition. The basilar suture (spheno-occipital synchondrosis) is completely open, a sign of skeletal immaturity and consistent with this estimated age.

Picture adapted: http://www.boneclones.com/

The age of the skull was determined by referring to the natural bone specimen and a panoramic radiograph, both of which suggest a range from 7.5 to 12.5 years. The root apices of the permanent incisors and first molars are almost completely formed. The spheno-occipital synchondrosis is open. The anterior intra-occipital suture is closed.

Picture adapted: http://www.boneclones.com/

This skull offers an excellent example of an adolescent. With the exception of the wisdom teeth, all permanent teeth are fully erupted, and no deciduous dentition remains. The apices of the canines, premolars, and second molars are approximately one-half to two-thirds closed radiographically; this is consistent with 13.5 - 14 years. The crowns of the three remaining third molars are in an early stage of calcification. Radiographically, there is no evidence of root formation. The early stage of third molar crown formation is usually complete by 13 years.

Picture adapted: http://www.boneclones.com/

This skull here shows us the real situation going on when surface of the maxilla and mandible is removed. You can clearly see the different dentitions, where the skull is losing its primary teeth (baby teeth) and they are being replaced or succeeded by secondary/permanent dentition. This is known as a mixed dentition as the primary mandibular incisors are missing and we can see the emerging permanent incisors. Based on this discovery, we might assume that the dental age of this skull is approximately 7-8 years of age.

Picture adapted: http://twentytwowords.com/2011/06/16/what-childrens-skulls-look-like-as-they-prepare-to-lose-their-baby-teeth/

Reference:

1. http://www.spoilheap.co.uk/hsr1.htm

2. http://shs.westport.k12.ct.us/forensics/11-forensic_anthropology/skeleton_evidence.htm

3. Fehrenbach, Margaret J. 2011. 3^rd ed. Ilustrated Dental Embryology, Histology, and Anatomy.

Male Skull vs Female Skull (Part 3: Mandible)

Now that you are more likely to be able to distinguish between male and female skulls, let's boost your confidence with the final aspect - Mandible!

"QUESTION 2

Is a male human skull different from that of a female? If yes, how"

As mentioned earlier, generally the male skull tops most of the features when compared to a female skull. Their attributes are mostly bigger, thicker, or sharper in a whole. Males, so dominating! 

Let us now look into the Mandible (Jaw) aspect of the skull. Likewise, there are also.... distinct features we can appreciate between a male and a female skull. 


(Picture Adapted: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0094129807000673)
Do you realize the prominent features of the lower part of the mandible (jaw)? In a male, (1) the chin is more square compared to females as they portray a more rounded chin with a mid-line point. 

CASE STUDY: Here's an example of the Chin & Jaw Re-countouring done for transitioning girls performed by Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons from Beverly Hills Institute of Aesthetics & Reconstructive Surgery.  

It's interesting to note the transition of a male to female jaw. 

(Picture Adapted: Bass, William M. 1995. 4th ed. Human Osteology:A Laboratory and Field Manual of the Human Skeleton. Specials Publication No. 2. Missouri)

If you take a glance at the dentition between both the female and male skulls, you would realize that (2) the teeth are larger in males, in particularly canines. Female has more petite teeth as they are socially grown to be known as the more feminine and gentle 'creatures' hence, does not require enormous teeth. No?

However, the next attribute to discuss finally is a win-point of the female surpass over the male. (3) The Gonial Angle. Before we look into this aspect, what do you understand about the Gonial Angle? It is the angle formed by the junction of the posterior and lower borders of the human lower jaw. At simpler terms, it means the angle of the mandible (jaw).

Picture Adapted & Modified: http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?pid=S0038-23532008000200006&script=sci_arttext
 
Here's a simple diagram to help you understand the markings of the aspect we are about to discuss on.


As shown in the diagram, the Gonial angle is greater in female compare male. Scientifically, Gonial angle >125 degrees in female where as <124 degrees in male.

Picture Adapted: http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?pid=S0038-23532008000200006&script=sci_arttext

Apart the angle, the (4) Gonial eversion is less obvious in females are more marked in males. A Gonial Eversion is the point/apex of the mandible being turned outwards. 
 
Next, let's observe the ascending ramus of the mandible. Based on the observation, can we tell that (5) the length of the ascending ramus is shorter in females compared to male?

 It is known that the ascending ramus are usually <28mm in females where as >33mm in males. So dear male readers out there, do you realize that you actually have a higher mandible?

***

That's It! After following the baby steps we guided you along..

Congratulations you, yes YOU, are now officially equipped with the skills and knowledge to distinguish the males and female skull.

References:

Bass, William M. 1995. 4th ed. Human Osteology:A Laboratory and Field Manual of the Human Skeleton. Specials Publication No. 2. Missouri

Male Skull & Female Skull (Part 2: Cranium)

Here are additional answers to Question 2 ! :) 

If you have forgotten what the question was again, here it is.

"QUESTION 2

Is a male human skull different from that of a female? If yes, how?"

Cranial vault differences between male & female:

Hello there, welcome back!

Ever wondered why is it easy to differentiate a man and a woman on first sight? What sets us apart from the other gender based on ONLY our skull? Here, you will be taken on a journey to detect the detectable differences in what we call, the cranial vault part of the human skull. 

In the below picture, you can roughly see the obvious differences between the two.

(picture adapted from: http://www.skullgallery.com/servlet/the-43/human-skull-adult-collection/Detail)

*****

This cranial vault is basically the bony “cap” part of the skull. It includes frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal bones, and the greater wings of the sphenoid bone.

Picture adapted from : 

https://www2.aofoundation.org/wps/portal/!ut/p/c0/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3hng7

BARydDRwN3QwMDA08zTzdvvxBjIwN_I_2CbEdFADiM_QM!/?segment=Cranium&bone=CMF&classification=93-Cranial%20vault%2C%20Cranial%20vault%20fractures&teaserTitle=&showPage=diagnosis&contentUrl=/srg/93/01-Diagnosis/cranial_vault-cranial_vault.jsp)

As seen in the picture, are the labelled parts as mentioned (in the red boxes).

*****

And now, you can see the picture below showing how the male skulls are generally larger than female skulls. 

They have a sloping or receding forehead. Whereas, a female skull can be identified due to the smaller size, vertical forehead, smoother surface, more slender, and it also retains the frontal and parietal bossing (slight bony bump on frontal & parietal bones).

(picture adapted from: http://www.wku.edu/~darlene.applegate/forensic/lab10/lab10.html)                                                                

*****

Still not convinced enough? Need more evidence? Well, there are a couple other characters to look out for. One of them, is the bony elevated surfaces found on cranial vault which is known as muscle ridges, where muscles of the skull are attached to. These ridges are usually larger in males. Some examples are temporal lines and nuchal lines at the temporal bone and occipital bone respectively.

Temporal lines on Britney’s bald head are quite obvious. Try looking for temporal lines on people with bald heads and see if you can find them. But, shhhhhh...do be discreet though, since they might get offended...

*****

Next up in the list, is the bony prominence known as mastoid process. It’s situated somewhere behind your ears, at the base of your skull. Easily found if you put 1 or 2 fingers behind your ear. In males, mastoid process is larger and blunter while in females, it is smaller, and more pointed. 

(picture adapted from: http://picktonfile.wikispaces.com/Forensic+Anthropology)

*****

Besides that, there are a few mucous-lined air cavities in some parts of the skull bone. These cavities are better known as sinuses. One of it is known as frontal sinus, which is found to be larger in males than females.

******

And here would be the last, but not least of the differences seen in a cranial vault of male and female skulls.

In the above picture, you can find the EOP at the back of the head on the occipital bone. This EOP (external occipital protuberance aka inion) may appear more prominent in males compared to females (to the point of appearing hook shaped sometimes).

References:

http://facultypages.morris.umn.edu/~cholledl/anth2101/sex_estimation.pdf

Male Skull & Female Skull (Part 1: Face)

Why hello there ! :) As we know, we've finished discussing Question 1. Let's proceed to Question 2! This time, we'll be exploring the world of Anatomy!

"QUESTION 2

Is a male human skull different from that of a female? If yes, how"

Really, do you think if there's any difference? 


Before we proceed, let us have a quick tutorial on the human skull for us to understand better as we go along this journey: 

Besides other body parts such as pelvis, skull is generally a good component for sex determination. The male skull would be more robust and, muscle-marked than female. However, absolute differences seldom exist! Thus, we are here to guide you through the obvious features you can look for!

Basically, we are going to discuss about the features of face, mandible (lower jaw) and cranial vault (the space occupied by brain).

Now, let’s find evidences on the face. Basically, we are tracing the supraorbital ridge, superior orbital margin, palate, teeth and zygomatic arch. Don’t freak out by the names! Continue reading and you’ll find them as easy as a pie! 

Below is a picture comparing the supraorbital ridge (brow ridge above the eye sockets) and superior orbital margin (upper margin of eye cavity) between the male and female.

Firstly, a more pronounced supraorbital ridge can be found on the male skull whereas a flatter one on the female. This is very easy to remember, isn’t the guy with thick and prominent eyebrow looking more attractive to you? *wink*

On the other hand, superior orbital margin (upper margin of eye cavity) is a feature dominant on the female skull. It is found to be sharper than the male.    

Following that, let's look at the palate of the skull (the roof of the mouth). The male has a larger size of palate compared to female. *Just recall that the men eat a lot more than women, so they have larger mouth, hence larger palate!*

Apart from that, teeth are a very easy element to differentiate sex!

Can you find the difference between Tom Cruise’s and Angelina Jolie’s teeth? Well, of course they are both dazzling white and clean, BUT do you realise Tom's teeth are larger than Angel’s? So, as you can see from this typical example, the male has larger teeth than female in general. *The same phenomenon with regards to palate can be applied here, men eat more than women, that’s why they have bigger teeth!* 

  

Picture below shows the position of zygomatic arch (cheek bone) on the skull.

Last but not least, you may find difference in the zygomatic arch (cheek bone). As in many examples, the male is in domination again. The zygomatic arch is wider in males and narrower in females.

References:

Bass, William M. 1995. 4th ed. Human Osteology:A Laboratory and Field Manual of the Human Skeleton. Specials Publication No. 2. Missouri