Introduction to Application of Anthropology
- Applied Anthropology uses anthropological methods, theories, concepts and knowledge, public and private institutions to deal with practical real-world problems in a better way
- It is sometimes considered as the 5th branch of Anthropology but all applied anthropologist have been trained in one or more of the traditional 4 fields
- Developmental Anthropology uses the expertise of anthropologist to handle the practical human problems more commonly in developing countries. Along with the government institutions, inter-governmental, international institutions and even NGOs ; take the support of anthropologist for better development process using the knowledge of the discipline
For Example : the local level ecological and cultural conditions to minimise the negative impacts and to avoid the unanticipated problems
Medical Anthropology
- A rapidly growing field is Medical Anthropology helping in forensic applications, health and nutrition, avoiding and minimizing diseases and disorders.
- A medical anthropologist is usually having the knowledge of both physical and socio-cultural anthropology to study the transmission of diseases for its pattern, vulnerability or adaptiveness to a particular group towards specific infections and diseases
- Medical anthropologists work with Epidemiologist to identify cultural practices affecting the spread of disease as the transmission of pathogens which is strongly influenced by people’s diet, sanitation, sexual habits and other behaviour
- Different cultures have different ideas about the causes and symptoms of diseases and some local remedies to treat those illnesses best. Language and communication also influence health care delivery so people trained in linguistic anthropology sometimes work in medical anthropology
Forensic Anthropology
- Forensic anthropology is the branch of anthropology dealing with
- identification of individuals
- age of the individuals
- sex of the individual
- sometimes racial identity etc
- based on the skeletal remains & body specimens. They have applications in various domains.
- Forensic Anthropologist assist the medical examiners in the analysis of skeleton remains in investigations related to crime, disasters, genocide etc
- Along with the identification of the individual, the sex and age of the skeleton can also be estimated and in murder cases, the cause of death due to trauma like the use of a weapon can be hinted
- 5 prominent Applications of Forensics
- DNA Fingerprinting involves studying the DNA polymorphs and VNTRs (variable number of tandem repeats) in the body specimens of an individual. Body specimens like blood, hair follicle, skin, semen, etc. have potential applications in crime investigations like murder, rape & identification of victims in disasters, burn events, road accidents and resolution of parenthood disputes
- Finger Prints are tiny ridges on the tip of finger which are unique to an individual. They are even more unique than the DNA finger prints. DNA finger prints can be same in monozygotic twins but they do not have the same fingerprints
- Scientific study of finger prints is known as Dactyloscopy
- Finger prints can be visible one on the surface or can be the latent ones which are not visible this cannot be seen with naked eye and are made visible using some chemical power or laser (most significant applications in crime investigation)
- Finger prints are used in biometric applications like Aadhar, Identification of beneficiaries for various government schemes or regulating the attendance of employees etc.
- Mainly studied through study of pelvic bones and skull region. Male pelvis is smaller and narrower with heavier and thicker bone which is design to support a heavy body with a stronger muscle structure. Female pelvis is bigger and wider with lighter bones for purpose of child bearing and or an easier delivery
- Second most reliable skeletal indicator to identify sex of the individual is bones of skull. Males tend to have larger skull which is a ragged one with a ragged occipital bulge were as females have comparatively smaller and lighter skull and rounded forehead
- Males tend to have a squarish chin based on the shape of the mandible where as females have well marked curvature in mandible
- Females have Larger Clavicle / Collar Bone in General
- 2 most important methods for age determination is on the basis of teeth and skull sutures.
- in the 1st 6 years of the life beginning from roughly 6 to 7 months of the age, child is having only the milk or primary teeth
- 6 to 12/13 yrs of the age is having a mixed dentition with both primary and permanent teeth and after that only permanent teeth are formed.
- the 3rd molar the wisdom tooth generally erupts at 17 /18 yrs of the age.
- Xray studies of Maxilla and Mandible in children show the un erupted teeth like the permanent ones coming below the milk teeth and hence accurate age determination can be there.
- Dentition studies can give an idea about an age of an individual generally upto 25 yrs of the age
- Sutures are the ages in the volt of skull were the separate bones are joined which are getting closed at different ages and hence can give an idea about the age of an individual
- For Examples
- sutures are wide open in infancy
- The posterior fontanelle closes by the end of 1st one /one and half yrs or the age
- Anterior fontanelle generally closes by the end of 2nd yr of the age
- For Sagittal and lambdoid sutures the full obliteration (eradication total closure) may never occur but these are more or less closed in 30 to 40 yrs of the age
- Coronal suture may begin to fuse by the age of 24 yrs but the avg. suture closes in the same age grp of 30 -40 yrs
- So study of dentition and skull sutures can help in determining the age of the individual
- Race is more of a social concept and hence its biological variations are not having very reliability and validity. But still the three race model has some value in describing broad genetic morphological characteristics
- It is used by many experts in forensic investigations as some features of the skull are variable in different races and are having some similarity b/n the members of the same races
- Negroid (African ,Indian Ocean Island, mongoloids (East Asian south Asian north eastern India and Caucasoid (white races) are 3 prominent races which can be defined with some marked races
- Nasel spine is very small in Negroid ,sightly prominent in mongoloids and more prominent in Caucasoid
- Prognathism - is more prominent in Negroid a bit variable in mongoloids and straight in Caucasoid
- Also variations in the size of skull can also act as a parameter to define the races, skull is longer in Negroid a bit restricted in mongoloids and also skull height is more in Caucasoid
- it is a board term use to describe a no. of methods trying to determine if a skull can be matched to a particular face a face gets much of its form /looks the underlying support of the skull. Facial reconstruction helps in giving face or look to a skull which can be, cannot be matching to a missing person so has most practical applications in forensics
- But now a days due to advancement in technology the applications of facial reconstruction are much wider extending in entertainment industry, plastic surgeries, creation of desired looks for individuals etc
- Facial reconstruction of arts and science. Science provides the measurements and helps in understanding the relationship b/n skull and face, were as the artistic part transforms the scientific data into a practical and recognisable real human face
- Earlier the facial reconstruction was using traditional methods and techniques like use of clay and wax but latter with advancements in technology like new medical imaging techniques (CT, MRI) a three dimensional facial reconstruction has emerged with more of accuracy and wider applications
Personal Identification
2 most commonly used method to identify an individual is DNA Finger Prints & Finger Print of that Individual
Sex Identification
Age Determination
Age Determination based on Teeth
Age Determination based on Sutures
Race determination
Facial Reconstruction
Kinanthropormetry & Sports Anthropology
Introduction
- Ross Et Al Defined Kinanthropometry as applications of body measurements like size and shape, proportion, compositions and gross functions including cardio, respiratory activity so as to help in better understanding of human growth and development, performance, even nutrition
- Auxology is the Scientific Study of Growth & Development
Can I have Patrick ation is in physical education and sports sciences medicine signs of growth and development, science of ageing
- Genotology - Science of Ageing
Morehouse and Rasch's Classification (Body Physique Classification)
Kinanthropometric Applications are useful tools in the hands of sport scientist, research and development for human biology, physical anthropologists, physical educationist and even the sport coaches for selection of the best body type suited for a particular event. These measurements are also used to determine body size differences for applications in Somatotyping ,body composition and other disciplines
Physical Anthropology & Defence Designs
- The term "Anthropometry" was coined by Quetelet, but its most valid explanation was given by the German scientist Martin.
- Kinanthropometry is a broader field than anthropology and includes it.
- Anthropometry is a branch of physical anthropology dealing with various measurements of the human body, such as size and shape, which can help in designing equipment, clothing, workspaces, or weapons.
- For Example 1: A computer keyboard designed for the Indian market should have proper spacing for the average Indian to rest their fingers on the keys. This spacing will be different for different countries body types, shapes, and sizes of the hand.
- For Example 2: Physical anthropologists, as experts in human anatomy, were first involved in designing defence equipment during World War II. Since then, anthropometric research has significantly influenced engineering or designing defence equipment and machinery. Designing any product or equipment is based on the ease of use for the users, and anthropologists help in designing an efficient product with both safety and comfort for the user.
- For Example 3: Gun turrets are movable enclosures containing the gunner wearing protective clothing. They are designed to provide a comfortable sitting arrangement, citing mechanism, and allow the free movement of the gunner. It is designed so that the gunner has all of this available to them so that the machine can be used with the best efficiency. Anthropometric measurements of the users are one of the significant guides for a better design of the turret.
- For Example 4: Cockpit size and seat configuration. Anthropological scientists have made a study of cockpit space based on certain established parameters for different types of aircraft. These anthropometric measurements are instrumental in designing various seat configurations for fighter jets, bombers, and cargo planes so that cockpit fatigue can be minimised, and body movement can be possible.
- For Example 5: Flight clothing is another application of anthropometric data, like flying helmets and oxygen masks based on statistical sizes and shapes of facial and skull forms. The dress of fighter jet pilots is different from that of cargo planes, as fighter jets fly even above 50,000 feet, and the very low atmospheric pressure can lead to swelling of the human body and bursting of blood vessels. Therefore, the dress for fighter jet pilots is perfectly fitting non-stretch garments with air tubes connected to them. When the air pressure drops, air could be introduced into the spaces within the clothing, preventing muscles from expanding or blood vessels from bursting.
- For Example 6: The ejection seat mounted on fighter aircraft is guided by anthropometric data so that in case of emergency, the pilot could detach the seat and themselves out of the aircraft and comfortably open the parachute for a safe landing. This seat was discovered by Germans during World War II. Designing this seat should take into account the centre of gravity principles of physics and anthropometric principles of physical anthropology.
Kinanthropometry & Sports Designs
- Human features can be used to design sports equipment
- Ross et al. defined kinanthropometry as the application of body measurements, such as size and shape, proportion, composition, and gross functions, including cardiorespiratory activity, to help better understand human growth and development (this G&D study is called Auxology), performance, and even nutrition.
- It can have practical applications in physical education, sports sciences, medicine, the science of G&D, the science of ageing (gerontology), and several other disciplines
- Kinanthropometry of physical characteristics is of fundamental importance to achieve a level of performance in a specific sport
- It provides various body measurements, such as weight, height, diameter, skin folds, etc., for a better selection of sportsmen for a particular sport. It provides a quantitative interface between human structure and function and hence is primarily useful for sports. Coaches and guides use kinanthropometry measurements to select individuals for a particular sport
- Even minute details like body fat percentage are of great interest here, as there is a significant relationship between body fat and the running capabilities of the individual.