U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Positive Identification by a Skull with Multiple Epigenetic Traits and Abnormal Structure of the Neurocranium, Viscerocranium, and the Skeleton

NCJ Number
234674
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 56 Issue: 3 Dated: May 2011 Pages: 788-793
Author(s)
Josip Kuharic; Natasa Kovacic, M.D., Ph.D.; Peter Marusic, M.D., Ph.D.; Ana Marusic, M.D., Ph.D.; Vedrama Petrovecki, M.D., Ph.D.
Date Published
May 2011
Length
6 pages
Annotation
During the skeletal analysis of an unidentified male war victim, the authors observed multiple wormian bones and a patent metopic suture.
Abstract
Wormian bones are small ossicles appearing within the cranial sutures in more than 40 percent of skulls, most commonly at the lambdoid suture and pterion. During the skeletal analysis of an unidentified male war victim, the authors observed multiple wormian bones and a patent metopic suture. Additionally, the right elbow was deformed, probably as a consequence of an old trauma. The skull was analyzed by cranial measurements and computerized tomography, revealing the presence of cranial deformities including hyperbrachicrania, localized reduction in hemispheral widths, increased cranial capacity, and sclerosis of the viscerocranium. Besides unique anatomical features and their anthropological value, such skeletal abnormalities also have a forensic value as the evidence to support the final identification of the victim. (Published Abstract)