Browsing by Author "Marais, Johan Christian"

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    The correlation between cranial and post-cranial skeletal elements for resolving and reconstruction of comingled skeletal remains in victim identification
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-04) Marais, Johan Christian; Alblas, Amanda; Greyling, L. M.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Biomedical Sciences: Anatomy and Histology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Upon discovery of comingled disarticulated skeletons, actual matching of different skeletal elements to a particular individual can be extremely difficult. Available literature regarding the matching of skeletal elements, show few studies correlating skull measurements with post-cranial elements, with the majority of cases determining correlations with stature. The aim of this study is to assess the degree of correlation between cranial and post-cranial skeletal elements, of the three dominant South African population groups, by means of direct correlations of measurements. Skeletons of individuals (N=296) of both males (n=148) and females (n=148) of South African black (n=100), South African white (n=97) and South African coloured (n=99) population groups, were assessed in three distinct manners. Firstly, three correlation sets were recorded: 21 cephalometric elements were correlated with eight long-bone measurements, and six occipital condyle measurements with morphologically mirrored measurements on the superior articular facet of the first cervical vertebra were correlated. The last of the correlation sets consisted of the lengths and breadths of the neural foramina from foramen magnum up to C2. Secondly, Principal Component Analyses were conducted on the 21 cephalometric elements, the eight long-bones measurements, the 12 articular facet measurements, and the six neural canal measurements. Lastly, t-tests were conducted to determine if any of the measurements were sexually different. From these assessments, a connection between some of the cephalometric elements and the long bones were observed. Most notably, the novel construct known as representative facial height (NLH.MRH), which is the summation of the nasal height and the maximum ramus height of the mandible for all three population groups. The South African white males, however, showed a much weaker connection with NLH.MRH, though, the basion-bregma height correlated well with the long bones. It was determined that the length measurements outperformed the breadth measurements in terms of correlative strength for the three population groups, in the atlanto-occipital joint. A direct relationship was established within the neural canal from foramen magnum up until C2 for all three population groups. A clear platform is created for future research into constructing regression formulae for matching skulls with long bones. The articular facet and neural canal results can be used in a combined assessment for matching a skull with a body that has an intact cervical spine, by developing a regression model from a grouping of both measurement sets. These regression models may then be implemented in the sorting of comingled remains in situations such as mass graves and mass disasters.