Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
discovered inside a pickup truck of a potential suspect. The man claimed to be an avid hunter
and asserted that the small bony fragments were from deer he had recently killed during the
hunting season.
Bone samples were procured from the extant portion of the victim's humerus as well as
from the forearm of a recently killed deer. These samples were embedded, sectioned, and
examined under a microscope for comparative histological analysis.
Owsley et al. (1985)
took measurements of cortical thicknesses and examined the sections for the presence and
organization of osteonal bone.
The known deer bone was characterized by plexiform bone and primary osteons. The
unidentified bony fragments, however, were comprised of remodeled secondary osteonal
bone. The cortical thicknesses of these remains were consistent with the samples taken
from the victim at autopsy. Also, there was no evidence of plexiform bone in the unknown
sample from the pickup truck.
Therefore, the researchers were able to rule out deer as the source of the unidentified
remains as well as demonstrate the likelihood that the bone fragments were from the victim.
The suspect in question admitted to the murder before his trial.
If this homicide were a present-day investigation, the question may arise as to why histo-
morphological analyses were preferred to DNA analyses. Under certain circumstances, bone
histology can be a more expeditious, less expensive, and in some cases, perhaps a less
destructive technique.
SO YOU'RE INTERESTED IN BONE HISTOLOGY
Bone and dental histological research is a tedious process. It can be painstaking and time
consuming but it is fascinating and the future potential of the field is wide open. For the
anthropologist interested in pursuing histology, a strong grasp of bone and tooth biology
and bone biomechanics is essential. A solid understanding and awareness of the key histo-
morphological innovators and their methodologies is strongly recommended. Many of these
have been discussed within this chapter.
Keep in mind the importance of sample selection and adhering to the specificities of a tech-
nique as it is described. Useful bone histology references include the recent publication,
Crowder and Stout (2012)
, as well as works by
Kerley (1965), Kerley and Ubelaker (1978),
Stout (1989, 1992)
, and
Robling and Stout (2008)
, to name only a few. Becoming familiar
with these sources as well as bone biology texts such as
Enlow (1963), Martin and Burr
(1989), Carter and Beaupre (2001)
, and
Hall (2005)
is strongly recommended for the aspiring
bone histology researcher.
The microscopic analysis of hard tissues is very useful to anthropologists. As discussed,
bone and dental histology contribute to partial estimation of the biological profile as well
as providing insight into nutritional, pathological, biomechanical, and taphonomic research.
These fields are ripe with unexplored and unanswered questions. A better understanding of
how biomechanical stress and strain affect bone structure is necessary as is a need to further
substantiate current histological aging techniques and potential sexing methodologies. An
appreciation of this potential and a desire to pursue these avenues will greatly benefit the
future of the field. With the recent advancements in imaging and microscopy technology,
