Course Unit / Trauma: cause and manner of death

Trauma: cause and manner of death

Year
1
Academic year
2023-2024
Code
02036238
Subject Area
Biological Anthropology
Language of Instruction
Portuguese
Other Languages of Instruction
English
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
ECTS Credits
6.0
Type
Elective
Level
2nd Cycle Studies - Mestrado

Recommended Prerequisites

Human Osteology.

Teaching Methods

Theoretical exposition, practical classes with human skeletal remains from identified collections as well as with human skulls with traumatic injuries.

Learning Outcomes

It is intended that students learn to discriminate between ante, peri, and postmortem lesions; acquire knowledge about the biomechanics and the aetiology of injuries; understand the limits of forensic Anthropology in the interpretation of the cause and manner of death.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Structural differences between fresh bone and dry bone. Biomechanics of lesions. Discrimination between ante, peri and postmortem lesions. Antemortem traumatic injuries as identity factors. Other benefits of antemortem traumatic injuries: documentation of human rights violation and identification of  maltreated child. Estimation of post traumatic interval. Perimortem traumatic injuries: biomechanics and etiology. Gun shot wounds; blunt force trauma; Sharp force trauma and blast trauma. How to make refrence to traumatic injuries on the report of Forensic Anthropology.

Head Lecturer(s)

Eugénia Maria Guedes Pinto Antunes da Cunha

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Mini Tests: 35.0%
Exam: 65.0%

Bibliography

Blau, Ubelaker (eds) 2016. Handbook of forensic Anthropology and Archaeology (2nd ed). New York. Routledge. Capítulos 23, 24.

Cunha, Pinheiro 2006. A linguagem das fracturas: a perspectiva da Antropologia Forense. Antropologia Forense. 22/23: 223-2443.

Dirkmaat (ed) 2012. A companion to Forensic Anthropology. Chichester. Wiley Blackwell. Capítulos 17, 18, 19.

Iscan, Steyn 2013. The human skeleton in forensic medicine (3rd ed). Springfield. CC Thomas. Capítulos 8, 9.

Kimmerlee, Barybar 2008. Skeletal trauma. Identification of injuries resulting from human rights abuse and armed conflicts. Boca Raton. CRC Press.

Passalacqua, Rainwater (eds9 2015. Skeletal Trauma analysis, case studies in context. Chichester. Wiley Blackwell.

Schmitt, Cunha, Pinheiro (eds) 2006. Forensic Anthropology and Medicine. From recovery to cause of death. Tottowa. Humana Press. Capítulo 8.