Osteology Definition and Applications

Osteology is the science of bones, both of humans and animals. Osteologists work in careers ranging from sports medicine to forensics. Key Takeaways: Osteology Osteology is the science of bones, both of humans and animals.It can be used in a variety of applications, including criminal investigations, engineering, and the study of human evolution.Osteology should not be confused with osteopathy, which is a type of alternative medicine that emphasizes the healing of the â€Å"whole patient.† Definition of Osteology Osteology covers the study, identification, and analysis of bones, including their structures and functions. There are two main subdivisions of osteology: human and animal. Human Osteology In the human body, there are 206 bones, which can be classified according to their shape: long bones, short bones, flat bones, and irregular bones. Bones are also made of different types of tissues based on their texture—there is compact bone, which is found on the surface of bones and is dense and solid, and spongy bone, which is porous and is found on the inside of bones. Bones have several functions, which include: Acting as a frame to support the body and protect our organs like the heart and lungs. Muscles, tendons, and ligaments also attach to our bones to help us move.Producing blood cells and platelets, which are important for the formation of new blood and for healing wounds.Storing minerals like calcium and phosphorus, as well as energy reserves like lipids. Animal Osteology Animal bones can differ from human bones in things like their structure, density, and mineral content. Birds, for example, have hollow bones for air sacs that help the birds get enough oxygen to fly. The teeth of other animals can also be shaped differently depending on that animal’s diet. For example, herbivores like cows have wide, flat teeth to help them chew plant matter. Applications of Osteology Since bones can provide a lot of information about an individual, osteology is used in a variety of applications, which include: Elucidating the diet and evolution of humans over time, as well as diseases they may have incurredIdentifying remains dug up at a historical siteInvestigating a criminal sceneShowing the migration of humans across different places throughout history Careers in Osteology Forensic Osteologists Forensic anthropologist Tracy Van Deest takes an inventory of skeletal bones at the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner on December 9, 2014 in Tucson, Arizona. Getty Images / Getty Images News / John Moore. Forensic osteologists or anthropologists look at the remains of bodies to aid in investigations with unidentified remains. This study can be done in conjunction with medical examiners who may focus on any remaining soft tissues. Forensic osteologists can look at a number of factors to help in the investigation: Identifying whether the bone is human. The forensic osteologist can often use a process of elimination to determine whether the bones have the characteristic sizes, shapes, and densities of human bones. Osteologists can also identify whether the remains indicate an animal that walks on two legs, like humans do. If the bones are not big enough for identification, osteologists can look at them under the microscope.Identifying how many individuals were at the scene. If there are too many of a certain type of bone, this may indicate that more than one person is present. They can also check whether certain bones fit correctly against each other.Fitting a profile to the unknown remains. Based on factors such as tooth growth and the size and morphology of bones, forensic osteologists can figure out the age and sex of the humans.Reconstructing events like the cause of death. For example, the bones may differ depending on whether the person was hit with a sharp or blunt object. The forensic o steologist may also figure out what may have happened to a body after death, such as if it had been rained on or damaged by plants. Physical Anthropologists altmodern / Getty Images. Physical (or biological) anthropologists study the diversity and evolution of humans. For example, if you’ve ever seen a picture of how humans evolved from monkeys, or how the jaws of humans evolved over time, those pictures were probably figured out by physical anthropologists. To figure out exactly how humans evolved over time, physical anthropologists rely on osteology to piece apart the lives of individuals by looking at their skeletons. Analyzing their bones can help a physical anthropologist identify factors such as the diet, age, sex, and cause of death. Such anthropologists can also look at the bones of other primates to piece apart how humans may have evolved from a monkey ancestor. For example, human skulls can be distinguished from chimpanzee skulls in the size of their teeth and the shape of their skull. Physical anthropologists aren’t limited to just primates, either. Scientists can also study how the bone structure of a human compares to other animals like giraffes. Medicine and Engineering JohnnyGreig / Getty Images. Osteology is also very important for medicine and engineering. For example, understanding how the bones work can help doctors fit prosthetic limbs to a patient, and help engineers design artificial limbs that can work with the human body. In sports medicine, bones can also help predict the success of an athlete, and help doctors prescribe treatments that will help bones mend correctly. Osteology is also important for astronauts, whose bone density may shift due to the lower gravity in outer space. Osteology vs. Osteopathy Although osteology sounds very similar to osteopathy, the two terms should not be confused with one another. Osteopathy is a type of alternative medicine that aims to treat the â€Å"whole patient† (in mind, body, and spirit) and emphasizes the role of the musculoskeletal system in human health. Sources Boyd, Donna. â€Å"Forensic Anthropology Best Practices for Law Enforcement.† Radford University Forensic Science Institute, Radford University, May 2013, www.radford.edu/content/csat/home/forensic-science/outreach.html.Hubley, Mark. â€Å"7. Skeletal System: Bone Structure and Function.† Human Anatomy Physiology I, Prince Georges Community College, academic.pgcc.edu/~mhubley/ap/ap.htm.Persons, B. â€Å"Week 8: Comparative Osteology.† UA Outreach: Anthropology Partnership, The University of Alabama, 21 Apr. 2014, anthropology.ua.edu/blogs/tmseanthro/2014/04/21/week-8-comparative-osteology/.

Pollution Is Not A Big Problem - 1422 Words

Although thought to be â€Å"not a big problem† and â€Å"under control† by most people, pollution is making its way in being a serious and an unforgiving threat to society. Pollution a topic everyone hears and knows exists. What they don’t know is how serious of a problem it is already becoming. Many health issues are being reported now that are linked to air pollution and even the most severe weather places have encountered are linked to air pollution also. By society, not fully being aware of the true threat that pollution is making, it will only become a growing threat that they will be encountering. Jain, who is an 18 year old boy, is suffering from the lack of oxygen in his blood that flows through the body. This is caused by the pollution he is constantly breathing in all day. It doesn’t end with him just yet, but the millions of people who also live in Delhi. The pollution is so bad in there, that it is equivalent to smoking 10 cigarettes a day. The comment â€Å"Everyone is a smoker† said by Rajesh is referring to the people who are breathing in the poor air quality and the harm it brings. Jain survived that night, but now has asthma and is now required to check in with a doctor regularly to make sure he is healthy. He started to wear a mask outside to help reduce further damage to his health conditions. This still doesn’t prevent him from having attacks, but it does reduce the number of attacks and makes them less severe. This is just one story from the millionsShow MoreRelatedWater Pollution: Is It as Big of a Problem as We Think?2525 Words   |  11 PagesWater Pollution: Is it as big of a problem as we think? The following essay will be looking at the factors that cause pollution, and the effect that pollution has on our world today. It will also investigate what it has in store for the future if things do not improve. It will also explore some of the methods used to treat and clean-up wastewater, and oil spills. 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The Darkness of Goya free essay sample

This paper illuminates the life of the painter Goya and his masterful Saturn Devouring His Children. The author states that there have been few artists more dark and introspective than Goya. Saturn Devouring His Children is an image of great power and is the most representative of his Black Pictures. The author describes the painting in detail. The life of Goya especially his deafness is review and analyzed in terms of his art. This blurring of the lines between the real and the ideal is shown in Goyas construction of the painting. The thick, heavy lines that outline Saturns fingers as he grasps his child serve to underscore the detachment between the two figures. The god is wholly distinct from his offspring. Yet the lines between his own fingers are blurred. They compress together like mittens, inhuman paws tearing into the flesh of the headless figure. Line too in most of the rest of the picture is faint, all except for the thick, black circle of the creatures mouth. We will write a custom essay sample on The Darkness of Goya or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page

Snake By Lawrence Essays - Snakes, , Term Papers

Snake By Lawrence ?Snake? is one of Lawrence's most famous poems. Although the poem seems to be about an encounter with a snake, the true theme of the poem is the conflict between emotional behavior and learned behavior. This conflict is displayed through setting and symbolism. The poem begins with a very narrative voice and is a pleasure to read for that reason. Lawrence is exuberated in expressing his reverence for nature. In the first three stanzas of the poem the setting is established and the movement of the snake is described. The poem took place in a garden near his house because the boy was in pajamas and under the shade of ?a great dark carob-tree.? The movement of the snake is described by the alliteration of the s sound in the words straight, softly, slack, and silently. Symbolism is used throughout the poem. The garden in which the poem takes place can be a symbol of the Garden of Eden, and the snake, a symbol of the devil. A snake is a symbol of evil, but a snake is also a symbol of enlightenment and wisdom according to ancient civilizations. The snake, however, is the ultimate symbol of tension. The tension in the young boy is caused because he has to make a decision. When he encounters the snake, he is posed with the question to kill the snake or to let it leave unharmed, to act upon his human education or his instinct. While the snake is drinking at the trough, the boy's emotions are in conflict. Even though the boy was scared, he was even more honored that the snake should seek his hospitality. Once the snake started to leave, the boy's time was running out. He had to make a decision. Because of his ?accursed human education,? he decided to act in an evil way and throw a log at the snake. Does this suggest that the snake is not evil, but the soul in man is inherently evil? Or is the snake evil because he was retreating into the evil darkness of hell symbolized by the hole in the fissure? Once the boy threw the log at the snake, he immediately regretted it, revealing ?I thought how paltry, how vulgar, what a mean act?I wish he would come back, my snake.? After the boy threw the log, he recognized the innocence of the snake noting, ?And so, I missed my chance with one of the lords/ Of life.? This illustrates man always trying to rob the dignity from all Godly creatures, and how petty it is. Through this poem, Lawrence has illustrated his point about strife and the clash of opposites. The symbols used in this poem are very ambiguous because they can be interpreted many ways. The snake can be a symbol of evil, enlightenment and wisdom, or tension. The boy battles through many emotions in this poem, finally coming to the realization that men are inherently evil.