Anthropology 272

The Human Skeleton

Fall 2010

Instructor:  Kate Pechenkina
office: Powdermaker Hall 312A
phone:  (718) 997-5529
e-mail:

office hours:  Wednesday 10:00-11:30 AM, or by appointment

Class time:
9T3R: T/TH 9:25 AM-10:40 AM
3T3R: T/TH 3:05-4:20 PM

Please note that individual study time in the lab will be required for quiz and final project preparation
Required Course Materials: "The Human Bone Manual," by Timothy D. White, Pieter A. Folkens
Course Description:  An examination of the human skeletal and muscular systems, concerned with both form and function.  Regions of the body to be investigated include the cranium, thorax, abdomen, upper limbs, pelvis, and lower limbs.  Students will be expected to learn to recognize important anatomical landmarks on the human skeleton, identify fragmentary bones, and know the origins, insertions and actions of major muscles.  Students will also be taught how to sex and age skeletons. 
 
The final grade will be determined by:
1. Quiz scores (50%)
2. Performance on lab assignments (30%)
3. Final lab project (20%) 
 
NOTE THAT QUIZZES REQUIRE THE USE OF LAB MATERIALS THAT CANNOT BE LEFT OUT.  Makeups will not be given. A cumulative make-up quiz will be available at the end of the semester. The final project will require students to work in small groups to analyze a skeletal sample.  Each group will present the results of this analysis (e.g. skeletal part representation, number of individuals present, sex, age, osteometrics) in an osteological inventory and written report to the instructor.
 
Use of lab space in Room 311: It will often be necessary for you to stay in the lab outside of class time to examine skeletal elements and to prepare for quizzes. Whenever no other class is in session in Room 311, you can ask our Administrative Assistant, Ms. Shakiela Green, to open the door for you. Other faculty members may also be willing and able to open the door to Room 311. When using the lab, please make sure that:
1. All skeletal elements are placed on a sheet of foam or bubble wrap. Exercise caution and respect when handling human skeletons, as they are each unique and easily damaged.
2. Exercise extreme caution when handling skulls. Never set a cranium on top of its mandible, as this crushes teeth, and never use the orbits or the zygomatic arches to lift a skull.
3. Always close the door when you leave the room or step out. Do not ever leave the door propped open with nobody inside.
4. Please, refrain from placing your bags on the tables, as you may inadvertently knock a bone off.
 
No Electronic Device Policy: No electronic devices of any kind (laptop computers, phones, cameras, recorders) are allowed during class, unless explicit permission is obtained. The classroom is small and we will be need the table-tops to lay out skeletal materials. There will be no room to accommodate multiple laptops and incessant key-tapping can be districting. During class you will need to make multiple sketches of skeletal elements; pencil and paper is the best medium to do so.
Syllabus
week
dates
Topics

 

Readings
1
8/26
Class introduction, basic terminology

 
Ch. 1
2
8/31
9/2
Anatomic terminology
Bone biology and growth

 
Ch 6 All
Ch 4 All
3
9/7
9/9
Joints and Muscles
No class
 
Handout: lectures 2-4
4
9/14
9/16
No class – Friday schedule
Skull: bones of cranial vault
 
Quiz 1
 
Ch 7: 75-104
5
9/21
9/23
Skull: facial skeleton
Skull: facial skeleton, continues

 
Ch 7: 104-110
Ch 7: 11-121
6
9/28
9/30
Mandible, mastication
Sex determination based on a skull
 
Quiz 2
Ch 7:122-126
Ch 19:386
7
10/5
10/7
Dentition
Dentition continued
Incisors
Canines
Premolars
Molars
Lab 1 is due
Ch 8: 127-136
Ch 8: 136-154, Ch 19: 364
8
10/12
10/14
Vertebrae
The chest; respiration
 
Quiz 3
Ch 9 ALL
Ch 10: ALL
9
10/19
10/21
The shoulder girdle
Arm: humerus, radius, ulna
Lab 2 is due
 
Ch 11: ALL
Ch 12: ALL
10
10/26
10/28
Hand: carpals, metacarpals, phalanges
Hand continued
Quiz 4
 
Ch 13: ALL
Ch 13: ALL
11
11/2
11/4
Pelvic girdle
sex and age determination from pelvis
Quiz 5
Ch 14: ALL
Ch 19: 380, 387
12
11/9
11/11
Leg: femur, tibia, fibula
Leg muscles, walking, stature
 
Quiz 6
Ch 15: ALL
handout; Ch 19: 398
13
11/16
11/18
Foot: tarsal bones
Foot: metatarsals, phalanges
 
Lab 3 is due
Ch 16: 291-300
Ch 16: 300-308
14
11/23
11/25
Review
Thanksgiving recess
Quiz 7
 
15
11/30
12/2
Final Project
Final Project
 
 
Final Project is due on the day of final exam during the week of finals (12/14-12/21), date/ time TBA