Anthropology 330
Human Osteology
Spring 2016
Dr. Samantha Blatt
Class time: MW 4:30-5:45/ Math 127
Office location: Math 137B
Email: samanthablatt@boisestate.edu
TA: Mallory Schreier, malloryschreier@u.boisestate.edu
Course Description:
Human Osteology is an intensive course in human skeletal anatomy which is fundamental and
essential for advanced study of forensic anthropology, paleoanthropology, and bioarchaeology.
The primary focus of this course if for you to master identification of all 206 bones and 52 teeth
(permanent and deciduous) in the human body. We will examine bone biology, growth and
development, gross skeletal anatomy, metric and nonmetric collection, as well as some basic
methodological applications for building a biological profile. Independent, out of class,
laboratory study time is mandatory to succeed in this course. For those interested in exploring
more detailed methods associated with building a biological profile, reporting of results, and
legal issues, I suggest enrolling in Anthropology 444: Forensic Anthropology and/ or
Anthropology 479 either concurrently or in the future.
Req. Texts:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Human Osteology, 3rd Edition by White, Black, and Folkens
Human Osteology: A Laboratory and Field Manual by Bass
Osteology of Infants and Children by Baker, Dupra, and Tocheri
Standards for the Data Collection from Human Skeletal Remains by Buikstra and Ubelaker
“To succeed in life you need three things: a
wishbone, a backbone, and a funny bone”
Students with Disabilities:
To request academic accommodations for a
disability, contact the Disability Resource
Center by phone, (208) 426-1583, or e-mail,
drcinfo@boisestate.edu. Students are required
meet with a Disability Specialist prior to
receiving accommodations and may be required
to provide documentation to clarify
accommodation requests. Information about a
disability is confidential.
Academic Misconduct:
All students should become familiar with the
rules governing alleged academic misconduct.
All students should be familiar with what
constitutes academic misconduct, especially as it
applies to plagiarism and test taking. Plagiarism
is the inappropriate use of other people's work,
which can often be addressed by correct citation
and quotations. Ignorance of the rules
governing academic misconduct or ignorance of
what constitutes academic misconduct is not an
acceptable defense.
Quizzes: You will have 4 identification quizzes during the term. All quizzes will be administered in class. For each quiz, you
will move through stations with different bone specimens every 60 seconds to identify the specimen as bone, human or animal,
and if human the element, side, and indicated feature. There are NO make-up quizzes.
Application Exercises: You will complete 4 exercises designed to give you some experience with application of osteological
knowledge and also to help you with memorization. Much of this work will be completed outside of class.
Requirements:
Written & Practical Exams: You will have 1 practical and 1 written exam during the term. The practical exam will be similar
to the bone identification quizzes, but will be cumulative. The written exam will be essays and short answers based on lectures
and readings, primarily focused on the methods/ theories of field/laboratory work, growth analysis, and pathology.
Laboratory Access & Regulations: Because hands-on learning is integral to this course and in
order to allow you extra time to study the skeleton, you will be given key access to MG 127
outside of class time. You are greatly encouraged to spend as much time as possible in the lab
outside of class time and you will be given a schedule of times when Dr. Blatt or a TA will be
available to assist you in your study time. Just like studying human remains, access to MG 127 is a
privilege and you will be required to follow a set of rules as to your behavior in the lab and
treatment of the human remains you are studying. Failure to abide by the rules can result in your
dismissal from the course and/or loss of course points.
1. No food, drink, or smoking is allowed in the lab. Additionally, you are not to throw away
food or drink containers in the lab trash can.
2. The room is to remains secure at all times. If you leave, even for a few minutes, be sure
that the door is completely shut and locked. Students not enrolled in osteology are NOT to
be admitted to the room or left unattended in the room at any time for any reason.
Permission for visitors to the laboratory must be received from Dr. Blatt.
3. No specimens are to leave MG 127.
4. All skeletal and other materials are to be treated with the utmost respect and care.
5. Report any breakage of materials or equipment to Dr. Blatt or a TA immediately and save
the pieces.
6. The laboratory is not a social center. Please be respectful of other student’s study time.
You may only play music is all students present agree.
7. You are restricted to use of the specimens indicated by Dr. Blatt. All other items are off
limits.
8. You must sign in and out of the lab every time.
Notebook: At the end of the semester, you are required to submit a course notebook. This notebook will serve
as the compilation of what you have learned in this course and will be a useful reference in the future. The
main point of this exercise is to help you focus on the details of the bony anatomy by requiring you to draw
several views of each bone. Thus, the notebook drawings should ideally be undertaken while you first begin
to learn the morphology and features of each bone. They should serve as a tool for learning this anatomy and
not be put off until the last weekend of the course.
Your notebook MUST include the following minimum entries (but additional points will be awarded for
additional information and drawings (e.g. epiphyseal fusion times, bone biology, growth series, sex
differences, ancestry differences, etc. Be creative!):
1. Lecture notes/slides, handouts, labs, and all of your quizzes and exams, additional assignments
2. Tips on siding and identification
3. Drawings:
a. 1 view of the entire skeleton articulated (anterior view)
b. 2 views of each bone type with salient features labeled and tips on siding and ID
(for the vertebrae- 2 views of each kind of “special” vertebrae C1, C2, T10-12, L1-5. For the
ribs- 2 views of 1 typical rib, and of ribs 1, 2, 11, and 12)
c. Superior, anterior, inferior, and lateral view of the skull with all craniometric points labeled
d. Occlusal, labial, buccal, and lingual views of each tooth type and antimeres
Point Distribution:
Grading
Final grades will be based on the standard
grading scale: 93-100 (A), 90-92.9 (A-), 8789.9 (B+), 83-86.9 (B), 80-82.9 (B-), 7779.9 (C+), 73-76.9 (C), 70 - 72.9 (C-), 67 69.9 (D+), 60 - 66.9 (D), Below 60 (E).
Assignment:
4 ID Quizzes
4 Appl. Exercises
Written Exam
Practical Exam
Notebook
TOTAL
Points/ %:
200 33%
100 16.7%
100 16.7%
100 16.7%
100 16.7%
600 100%
Class Schedule:
Week
Jan. 11 & 13
Jan. 18 & 20
Jan. 25 & 27
Monday
Overview and Lab Protocol
White: Chap. 1
Buikstra: Chaps. 1-2
Bass: Appendix 1
MLK Day- No Class
Feb. 8 & 10
Skull II: Anatomy cont.
Bass: Chap. 2
Skull III: Applications
Buikstra: Chap. 7
White: Chap. 18.4 and 18.6
Quiz 1 (Skull)
Feb. 15 & 17
President’s Day- No Class
Feb. 22 & 24
Teeth III: Histology and Microstructures
Buikstra: Chaps. 5- 6
Vertebrae and Clavicle
White: Chap. 6 and 8.1
Baker: Chap. 6
Bass: pgs. 93-104; 125-131
Arm I: Humerus, Radius, Ulna
White: Chap. 9
Bass: pgs. 144-175
Notebook Check
Arm III: Limb Growth and Malformations
Baker: Chap.8
SPRING BREAK --------------------------------------Os Coxae, Sacrum, Coccyx
White: Chap. 11 and 18.3
Buikstra: Chap. 4
Baker: Chap. 6
Bass: pgs. 105-109; 192-218
Leg II: Tarsals, Metatarsals, Phalanges
White: Chap. 13
Baker: Chap. 9
Bass: pgs. 258-270
Guest Speaker
Study Week --------------------------------------------Written Exam
Feb. 1 & 3
Feb. 29 & March 2
March 7 & 9
March 14 & 16
March 21 & 23
March 28 & 30
April 4 & 6
April 11 & 13
April 18 & 20
April 25 & 27
Wednesday
Anatomical Terms and Bone Biology
White: Chap. 2 and 18.1-18.2
Bass: Chap. 1
White: Chap. 3
Skull I: Anatomy
White: Chap. 4
Buikstra: Chap. 3
Skull IV: Growth, Development, and
Malformations
Baker: Chap. 3-4
Teeth I: Anatomy and Growth
Baker: Chap. 5
Teeth II: Typolology
White: Chap. 5
Bass: Chap. 4
Quiz 2 (teeth)
Scapula, Ribs, Sternum
White: Chap. 7 and 8.2
Baker: Chap. 7
Bass: pgs. 109-124; 132-144
Arm II: Carpals, Metacarpals, Phalanges
White: Chap. 10
Baker: Chap. 9
Bass: pgs. 175-192
Quiz 3 (vertebrae, clavicle, scapula, ribs,
sternum, arm, hand)
NO CLASS
Leg I: Femur, Tibia, Fibula, Patella
White: Chap. 12 and 18.5
Baker: Chap. 8
Bass: pgs. 218-258
Quiz 4 (os coxae, sacrum, coccyx, leg, foot)
AAPA- No Class
Lab Open, No Lecture
Practical Exam
Notebooks Due