- Grading and Max Credits: Graduate Catalog Info VME6578
VME 6578
CREDITS: 3
Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the non-human skeleton emphasizing the general identification of complete and fragmentary skeletal remains. This course will cover bone biology, development and anatomy, taphonomy, age, and sex. This knowledge forms the underpinning for advanced study in veterinary forensic osteology or zooarchaeolgy. Learning objectives will be accomplished through a combination of lecture material, readings, quizzes, a case study, and online active discussions.
Topics
- Week 1: Bone Biology, Skeletal Development, Anatomical Terms
- Week 2: Determination of Minimum Number of Individuals (MNI), Case Documentation, Quiz 1
- Week 3: Taphopnomy
- Week 4: General anatomy of animals, Structures
- Week 5: Nerves, Muscles, Quiz 2
- Week 6: Mammalian Osteology – Dog, cat
- Week 7: Mammalian Osteology – Cow, horse, pig
- Week 8: Mammalian Osteology – Cow, horse, pig, Other mammals of potential forensic significance
Quiz 3, Case discussion released - Week 9: Avian Osteology
- Week 10: Avian Osteology, Quiz 4
- Week 11: Reptilian Osteology – Turtle, snake
- Week 12: Reptilian Osteology – Alligator, Other reptiles of potential forensic significance
- Week 13: Fish Osteology, Quiz 6
- Week 14: Age assessment
- Week 15: Sex assessment, Quiz 7, Case discussion due