Smoother and less knobby (gracile) Lower jaw is sloped with an angle Skull: greater than 90 degrees Frontal bone higher and more Chin rounder and more rounded Eye orbits more circular No occipital protuberance Male vs. Female Pelvis Region Bone Male Female Pelvic Subpubic angle 50-82 degrees 90 degrees Shape of pubis Triangular pubis Rectangular pubis Shape of pelvic Heart-shaped Oval-shaped cavity Sacral Sacrum Longer, narrower, Shorter, broader, curved curved inward outward Femur Femur (thigh bone) Straighter angle in Greater angle in relation relation to pelvis to pelvis Distinguishing Age Look for presence or absence of cartilage Suture marks Joints of skull Immature skull: fontanels Sutures gradually disappear – smoother appearance with age Distinguishing Age Cartilaginous lines 450 bones 206 bones through life Epiphysis – cartilaginous line while bones are growing No longer visible after cartilage is fully replaced (happens earlier in females than males) Age for completion of each bone varies – helps to approximate age from bones Once growth ceases, only repairs and reactions to aging appear Long bones
Smoother and less knobby (gracile) Skull: Frontal bone higher and more rounded Eye orbits more circular Lower jaw is sloped with an angle greater than 90 degrees Chin rounder and more No occipital protuberance Male vs. Female Pelvis Region Bone Male Female Pelvic Subpubic angle 50-82 degrees 90 degrees Shape of pubis Triangular pubis Rectangular pubis Shape of pelvic cavity Heart-shaped Oval-shaped Sacral Sacrum Longer, narrower, curved inward Shorter, broader, curved outward Femur Femur (thigh bone) Straighter angle in relation to pelvis Greater angle in relation to pelvis Distinguishing Age Look for presence or absence of cartilage Suture marks Joints of skull Immature skull: fontanels Sutures gradually disappear – smoother appearance with age Distinguishing Age Cartilaginous lines 450 bones 206 bones through life Epiphysis – cartilaginous line while bones are growing No longer visible after cartilage is fully replaced (happens earlier in females than males) Age for completion of each bone varies – helps to approximate age from bones Once growth ceases, only repairs and reactions to aging appear Long bones