osteologist
Skeletal system expert
An osteologist is a specialist who studies bones—their structure, development, and diseases.
The field applies to medicine, forensics, and archaeology.
A forensic osteologist examines skeletal remains to determine cause of death or identify victims.
An archaeological osteologist analyzes ancient bones to understand past populations: The osteologist determined the skeleton belonged to a woman in her thirties.
Internal supportive framework
- skullHead's bone casing
- femurUpper leg bone
- tibiaMain lower leg bone
- vertebraeInterlocking bones of spine
clavicle · pelvis · mandible · sternum · ribs · humerus · radius · ulna
Preserved ancient organism traces
- dinosaursExtinct prehistoric reptiles
- extinctNo longer existing
- JurassicDinosaur-dominated geological period
- CretaceousFinal Mesozoic period
mastodon · hominid · Neanderthal · Australopithecus · megafauna · evolution · amber · sediments
Act of unearthing
- burialPlacing deceased underground
- grave-goodsItems entombed with corpse
- cemeteryPlace for interring remains
- tombUnderground chamber for remains
mummy · ancient · prehistoric · bioarchaeology · mortuary · funerary · interment · ossuary
Establishing who someone is
- remainsContinues in place
- traumaLasting psychological wound
- pathologyStudy of disease processes
- ancestryFamily line of descent
stature · postmortem · decomposition · repatriation · medico-legal · autopsy · coroner · evidence
Study of structural forms
- histologyStudy of tissue structure
- radiographyDiagnostic imaging using X-rays
- measurementDetermining size or amount
- classificationSystematic grouping by traits
skeleton
Internal supportive framework
vertebrae · clavicle · pelvis · mandible · sternum · ribs · humerus · radius · ulna · carpals
fossils
Preserved ancient organism traces
- dinosaursExtinct prehistoric reptiles
- extinctNo longer existing
- JurassicDinosaur-dominated geological period
Cretaceous · mastodon · hominid · Neanderthal · Australopithecus · megafauna · evolution · amber · sediments · specimen
excavation
Act of unearthing
- burialPlacing deceased underground
- grave-goodsItems entombed with corpse
- cemeteryPlace for interring remains
tomb · mummy · ancient · prehistoric · bioarchaeology · mortuary · funerary · interment · ossuary · catacomb
identification
Establishing who someone is
ancestry · stature · postmortem · decomposition · repatriation · medico-legal · autopsy · coroner · evidence
morphology
Study of structural forms
- histologyStudy of tissue structure
- radiographyDiagnostic imaging using X-rays
- measurementDetermining size or amount
classification · documentation · curation · laboratory · microscopy