Radiographic Identification Paper

Skeletal Traits Used in Radiographic Identification
Skeletal traits used for identification include normal skeletal variation, pathological conditions, and skeletal anomalies. These conditions can be useful in developing a presumptive identification or confirming the identity of unknown remains (SWGANTH, 2012). It is important for forensic anthropologists to be familiar with skeletal variants so as not to confuse them with postmortem trauma or alterations (Christensen et al., 2014).
Pathological Conditions
Pathological conditions are abnormal changes in normal anatomy, usually a result of a disease (SWGANTH, 2012). When a disease affects the skeleton, it manifests as localized bony alterations called lesions which may be proliferative, lytic, or …show more content…
These features are present in almost everyone and because they show individual variation they are frequently studied for their potential usefulness in personal identification. Examples include differences in paranasal sinus shapes, cranial suture patterns, trabecular bone pattern, and extra bone contours.
Christensen’s 2004 study of variation in frontal sinuses determined that there is a “…quantifiable and significant difference between the shapes of individuals’ frontal sinus outlines.” Mann’s 1998 study of bone trabeculae examined 42 adult distal left femora and 38 proximal left tibia and revealed that “…no two bones were identical in the pattern and appearance of the trabeculae.”

Sekharan’s 1985 study, Identification of the Skull form its Suture Pattern, examined 320 skulls and determined that, “…ectocranial suture patterns…are highly individualistic and that no two skulls can ever have and identical

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