Osteology

From ArticleWorld

Osteology is the science of bones. It is not the same as orthopedics, which is an area of medicine that deals with bony and connective tissue illnesses. Rather it is a nonmedical science that is more closely related to pathology, forensics and anthropology.

Scope

The science of osteology covers several areas of bony subjects. Some parts of the science deal with the differences between bones of different species. Other aspects of the science focus on the shapes of bones. Forensic science uses osteology to determine the origin of a set of bones and, when the species is identified, can reconstruct the human or animal bones by studying the shape of the bones and their relationships.

Osteology also can focus on microscopic issues involving bone. The osteologist studies the way in which the bone forms out of cartilaginous structures, such as that which occurs in the fetus and in children. Finally, the study of osteology can focus on the biophysics of bone, such as its density, how it fractures, and its flexibility.

A closer look

Many osteologists also carry an interest in anthropology. They study the details of every aspect of all types of human bones. In this way, they can determine whether or not very old bones are that of a Homo sapien or are of an ancestral form of human. If only some of the bones are discovered, they can recreate the rest so that an entire skeleton can be recreated and can allow other scientists to determine what the ancestral human (or primate) looked like.

Osteologists are also helpful in forensic studies. If a deceased person’s remains are found in bony form, the gender, height, age and general features of the individual can be determined. Facial reconstruction of the deceased may be able to identify the person.

Osteology also provides the basic science behind the formation, breakage and healing of bone. Upon this scientific foundation, researchers who study bony diseases can use this information to further the research into the causes of bony diseases and the possibilities for treatment or cures for them.