2022, Vol.35, No.1

Anatomy & Biological Anthropology 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 0.33

pISSN : 2671-5651 / eISSN : 2671-566X
https://journal.kci.go.kr/aba

The hanging death is the most frequently used method by suicide attempters. In particular, the ligature marks on the victim’s neck in hanging deaths are important evidence of asphyxia due to compression of the neck (strangulation). Moreover, it can be an important piece of evidence that can differentiate the manner of death (suicide, homicide, and homicide disguised as a suicide). Therefore, the analysis and interpretation of ligature marks should ensure consistency and reliability as evidence in criminal investigations. However, in the past, when police officers demonstrating the patterns of ligature mark in cases of compressed neck, the standards and principles were not sufficient to make a valid decision in terms of anatomical measurement points, measurement methods, and measurement tools. Consequently, not only various errors may unconsciously occur in the meticulous examination of the ligature marks, but also as evidence, consistency and reliability may not be guaranteed. The aim of this study is to propose the new measurement method of ligature marks in case of death by hanging. A total of 18 cases in 2018 were analyzed (excluding 10 cases due to decomposition of the body) among 28 hanging deaths occurred in north area in Seoul. The classification and analysis of suicide by hanging were conducted in order to diagnose ligature mark of hanging, using the traditional (A) and new (G) measurement methods. The new measurement method was measured the four items (G1~G3) based on labrale inferius, otobasion inferius, and external occipital protuberance. When comparing the average difference between the new and traditional measurement methods, G1- A1 was observed as 3.9 cm, G2L-A2L as 0.6 cm, and G2R-A2R as 0.6 cm. Investigation of the first death scene as well as the medicolegal death investigation of the deceased are of utmost importance in resolving the criminal case. In the case of hanging death, the new measurement method for diagnosing ligature mark in the field of investigation can yield the same results without any differences between individuals. Also, this method can provide consistency and reliability as evidence during crime scene investigation.

Human bones provide plentiful information about height, sex, age, race and enable individual identification. Most of all, sex estimation is a basic and essential task and non-metric sex estimation is usually determined by professional experts. in case of Inexperienced young researchers, some mistakes may happen in determination of sex estimation. Therefore, there is a need for development of a method to determine sex estimation objectively and consistently even for students. The Diagnosis Sexuelle probabiliste (DSP2) program, which were developed based on more than 2,000 samples known sex from 12 population, is simple and objective method as it determines a sex estimation just by mesauring 10 parameters for hip bone. However, there has been no evaluation whether sex can be determined in Koreans by using DSP2) program yet. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the DSP2 program can determine accurately the sex estimation comparing with the nonmetric sex estimation results in the hip bone of the Joseon Dynasty. First, three researchers determined gross, non-metric sex estimation of 15 people (n=29) randomly selected from Joseon Dynasty human bone collection as a blind test method. Sex estimation for 15 people were determined as 9 male and 6 female. Based on this result, the sex estimation result by DSP2 program was compared and evaluated the accuracy of sex estimation. When comparing the non-metric sex estimation results, the determination of sex estimation ratio of DSP2 for 10 parameter was 86.2%, for essential 8 parameter was 89.66%, for best 4 parameter was 85%, and for worst 4 parameter was 31.3% (n=9), which was lowest ratio among all 4 set of parameters. Comparing the sex estimation accuracy for 10 parameter with the set of essential 8, best 4, and worst 4 parameter in each, the sex estimation accuracy was calculated as 86.2%, 80%, 31.03%, respectively. DSP2 program for 10 parameter is revealed as and is also convenient for general user to estimate the sex. This will provide the meaningful basic data for sex estimation of hip bone in the Korean population. However, since the number of hip bones used is not sufficient for generalization, a more accurate evaluation of the DSP2 program will be possible if additional studies are performed with more large scale of samples in the future.

Dermatome maps and the illustrations of cutaneous nerve innervation often described together in medical textbooks are difficult for some students to understand their differences and meanings. A novel pedagogical method using commercial limb models covered with white cotton pantyhose was introduced to improve the education around dermatomes and innervation of peripheral cutaneous nerves, which was previously difficult to apply in the classroom as students struggled to handle and store the large commercial models. The method of the present study was developed to solve the difficulties of the method using commercial models, and included transparent overhead projector (OHP) films and A4-sized papers imprinted with dermatome maps and cutaneous nerve maps, respectively. The maps were illustrated on upper and lower limbs with consistent shapes and sizes. These OHP films and papers were provided during class to each student, who were instructed to overlap the transparent OHP films and the papers, which improved their understanding of the differences between dermatomes and cutaneous nerve innervation and their meanings. A feedback survey with a 5-point Likert scale was conducted after the course to determine the utility of this method, and the mean values for effectiveness, satisfaction, understanding, learning engagement, and concentration all exceeded 4.0. These results indicated that the OHP film-overlapping method was useful for learning about dermatome and cutaneous nerve innervation, and it can be applied to other subjects of anatomy education.