Category Archives: Anatomy

Standard Anatomical Position

Posted on August 29, 2017 by JB

Bioarchaeological labs can be confusing places. Witness the following interaction, which takes place at least once a season: Bioarch 1: “This fragment’s a humerus, right?” Bioarch 2: [Examines bone] “No, it’s a left.” Bioarch 1: “But it’s humerus?” Bioarch 2: … Continue reading →

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Hip hip hooray: Orienting and identifying features of the os coxae

Posted on October 31, 2015 by JB

One of the ranges in my museum is decorated with a number of different osteological puns, and every time I walk past their on point door makes me jealous.  I’ve always been particularly envious of the “Hip Hip Hooray” slogan, … Continue reading →

Posted in Anatomy, Osteology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Abduction and Adduction

Posted on September 2, 2015 by JB

I always have a great time when I teach the anatomical terminology of  movement because students find it so easy to engage with the material. In my Science of Skeletons class I began experimenting with a charades-style activity that required … Continue reading →

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Supination

Posted on July 6, 2015 by JB

I recently started teaching my first self-designed course at the University of Michigan, an intro to bioarchaeology class titled The Science of Skeletons. We had our first meeting last Thursday, and in addition to demonstrating the appropriate way to handle human … Continue reading →

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Splanchnocranium

Posted on June 25, 2015 by JB

I’ve been reading a lot of research on the bioarchaeology of violence of late, thought-provoking  pieces by Haagen Klaus, Deb Martin and Gwen Robbins Schug that detail the ways in which the ideology of oppression is mediated by violence. In theory, this … Continue reading →

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Glenoid fossa

Posted on May 22, 2015 by JB

The term glenoid fossa can refer to a smooth indentation on either the scapula or the temporal bone. On the scapula, the glenoid fossa is located on the lateral side of the bone. It comprises a smooth, oval, and lightly indented surface … Continue reading →

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Palpable Anatomy: The Palmaris longus tendon

Posted on January 19, 2015 by JB

Happy January, everybody! I’ve been absent from the blog for a few weeks due to the arduous process of travelling from Thailand to Kazakhstan, and then back to the U.S. after a quick stop in Madrid – a journey of … Continue reading →

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Top Ten Christmas Gifts for Osteologists

Posted on December 16, 2014 by JB

It’s mid-December, and we’re fast approaching that magical time of year when we’re tasked with finding the perfect gifts for friends and loved ones: Kazakhstan Independence Day. No, wait, wrong country. Seeing as Christmas is only a week away, I figured I’d … Continue reading →

Posted in Anatomy, Bioarchaeology, Osteology | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Anatomy Quiz 1

Posted on May 12, 2014 by JB

It’s time to kick off the summer with a new type of quiz! I haven’t dissected in awhile, but I recently got the opportunity to whip out a scalpel and scissors again. I forgot how satisfying it is to gently tear through … Continue reading →

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Palpable Anatomy: The Anatomical Snuffbox

Posted on December 24, 2013 by JB

A few weeks ago I defended my dissertation proposal. I’ve attended a number of these public defenses in the past, and they inevitably go well – graduate students present engaging and exciting new research, their peers ask pertinent questions, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Anatomy, Palpable Anatomy | Tagged , , | 4 Comments