Fin Notes
Bone Bonanza Lab
Forensic Science 11/6/14
Drill
 Look at the skeletons on the board. What is wrong with
them? List bones that are missing/misplaced.
 (They can wear hats and be colorful if they want!) [That’s
not what I’m talking about.]
Objective
 IWBAT
 Identify the bones of the skeleton
 Determine age and gender of a skeleton
Sex Characteristics of
Pelvis
Male and Female
Male and Female Pelvis
Male
Heavy and
Thick
Large
Well marked
Deep
Points of
Comparison
General
Structure
Joint Surfaces
Female
Muscle
Attachment
Greater Pelvis
Rather
indistinct
Shallow
Light and
thin
Small
Male and Female Pelvis
Male
Heart shaped
Comparatively
small
The superior
surface of the body
spans nearly half
the width of the
sacrum.
Points of
Female
Comparison
Pelvic Inlet Circular
Pelvic
Outlet
First Piece
of Sacrum
Comparatively
Large
The superior
surface of the
body spans
almost 1/3 the
width of the
sacrum.
Male
and
Female
Pelvis
Male
Points of
Female
Comparison
Long, narrow, Sacrum
with smooth
concavity
Less than 90
degrees
Small and
deep
Short wide,
flat, curving
forward in
lower part
Pubic Arch
Greater than
90 degrees
Sciatic Notch Wide and
shallow
Skull Dimorphisms
Male and Female
Male and Female Skulls
Male
Points of
Comparison
Heavier and
General
more rugged
Architecture
Squared, small Eye Openings
Female
Prominent and Brow Ridges
heavy
Heavier and
Cheekbones
laterally arched
Smooth and flat
Lighter and less
rugged
Rounded, large
Lighter, lack
lateral arching
Male and Female Skulls
Male
Occipital
bump at the
base of the
skull
Letter U
Sloping, less
round
Larger, more
blunt
Points of
Female
Comparison
Occipital
Almost nonCondyle/
existent
Nuchal Ridge
Chin Shape
Letter V
Forehead
Vertical, fuller
Mastoid
Process
Smaller, more
pointed
Bone Bonanza Lab
 You will separate and reassemble bones of a male
skeleton and a female skeleton.
 Sam’s grandparents’ remains have been found, but
they’re all mixed up! Help him separate them so he
can put them to rest properly.
 Read the Background Information
Bone Bonanza Lab
 You and a partner (your choice) will work on this lab.
 Materials





One packet per pair
Plain sheet of white paper
Scissors
Glue stick
“Lesson 4-2: Making No Bones About It!” A Lesson on
Skeletal Evidence – REFERENCE, do NOT take!
 Put Grandmother on the front of your paper, and
Grandfather on the back.
Closure
 How can you tell if someone was right or left handed?
 List some ways to distinguish between male and
female bones