This in an online textbook for osteology. The book is designed for use in the human osteology laboratory classroom. Bones are described to aid in identification of skeletonized remains in either an archaeological or forensic anthropology setting. Basic techniques for siding, aging, sexing, and stature estimation are described. Both images of bone and drawings are included which may be used for study purposes outside of the classroom. The text represents work that has been developed over more than 30 years by its various authors and is meant to present students with the basic analytical tools for the study of human osteology.
Type of Material:
This is an Open (Access) Textbook on Osteology.
Recommended Uses:
This could be used by individuals to learn the parts of the skeletal system plus some forensic identification information. The book could also be used as a supplement for anthropology courses.
Technical Requirements:
Technical requirements include an Internet browser such as Chrome or Firefox and the ability to download and/or view PDF files with Adobe Reader.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
There are no specific objectives provided by the authors and hence, instructors would have provide their own. The text is a fairly comprhensive overview of the bones and parts of the human skeletal system that could be used as a guide to the system.
Target Student Population:
The target student population includes College Lower Division, College Upper Division, Graduate School, and Professional.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Some basic biology background is needed to follow terminology and diagrams.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
The written text material is complete and accurate
The content is appropriate for a course narrowly devoted to the skeletal system
It provides common terminology used in the field
Photo images are clear
Line drawings are good
Comparisons of bones by sex and race are comprehensive
The text has been updated twice since original text
Concerns:
The images are not labeled; eg., the skull has good illustrations and a list of the different bones and images of the different bones (either photo or line drawing) but they are not labeled on the entire skull image
Coverage is uneven - photos of some bones and only line drawings for others
There are no images of microscopic structure of bones
Text was last updated in 2008
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
Student learning is facilitated by the line drawing - students could label those a text and learn by doing their own identification and labeling
Would lend itself to a variety of teaching methods - labeling assignments, regional skeletal structure
The authors add a lot of interesting information how to use bone structure to identify individuals
The forensics information would interest students and be a valuable resource
Concerns:
Instructors and/or students would have figure out their own objectives
The authors assume students are working with actual human skeletons
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
Easy to download and access all parts of the text
The design is black and white text and line drawings
There are natural color images of many of the bones or groups of bones
Concerns:
There are no specific instructions provided for use
Lack of color in diagrams makes it difficult for students see where individual bones are located in fused bones such as skull and pelvis
This book needs a Table of Contents and/or Index to help find specific structures
Creative Commons:
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