The authors will present a research originating from a forensic case where the recovery of an element thought to be a full human nail among the soil and coprolites of farm animals on a man’s property, permitted DNA extraction and identification of his missing wife. However, the literature is particularly scarce on the description and recognition of human nails, especially after long post-mortem intervals. From this case, we performed a study to understand the specific characteristics of human nails. We aimed to provide detailed documentation on known samples of nails with different post-mortem intervals. With this intent, five nails were collected during autopsies at the medico-legal institute of Milan, 14 from skeletonized forensic cases where they were found in situ on the distal phalanges (post-mortem interval of about 3 months) and 23 in skeletal remains of the CAL Milano Cemetery Skeletal Collection buried for at least 20 years in the cemeteries of Milan. The collected nails were submitted to macroscopic and microscopic examination, with the use of a stereomicroscope. Finally, human nails samples were compared to other elements they may be confused with in association with skeletal remains, namely bone fragments, geological stones, pieces of plastic and pig nails (8 nails were sampled shortly after death; the pigs died of natural death and used for scientific purposes). As a result, nails have a convex-concave and rectangular shape with a rounded distal edge. Their most important characteristic feature is the verticalized striation. Microscopically, the striation may be linear or fragmented. Shape and striation are the major criteria distinguishing them from stones, bone and plastic. Pig nails also present striation but horizontally oriented contrasting with the vertical striation of human nails. This is the first detailed description of nails with different post-mortem intervals and compared with other elements found in skeletal remains.
The importance of nails and how to recognize them: lessons learned from a forensic case / L. Biehler-Gomez, E. Jersova, M. Cummaudo, D. Salsarola, S. Vanin, C. Cattaneo. Forensic Anthropology Society of Europe Symposium Bruxelles 2019.
The importance of nails and how to recognize them: lessons learned from a forensic case
L. Biehler-GomezPrimo
;M. Cummaudo;C. Cattaneo
2019
Abstract
The authors will present a research originating from a forensic case where the recovery of an element thought to be a full human nail among the soil and coprolites of farm animals on a man’s property, permitted DNA extraction and identification of his missing wife. However, the literature is particularly scarce on the description and recognition of human nails, especially after long post-mortem intervals. From this case, we performed a study to understand the specific characteristics of human nails. We aimed to provide detailed documentation on known samples of nails with different post-mortem intervals. With this intent, five nails were collected during autopsies at the medico-legal institute of Milan, 14 from skeletonized forensic cases where they were found in situ on the distal phalanges (post-mortem interval of about 3 months) and 23 in skeletal remains of the CAL Milano Cemetery Skeletal Collection buried for at least 20 years in the cemeteries of Milan. The collected nails were submitted to macroscopic and microscopic examination, with the use of a stereomicroscope. Finally, human nails samples were compared to other elements they may be confused with in association with skeletal remains, namely bone fragments, geological stones, pieces of plastic and pig nails (8 nails were sampled shortly after death; the pigs died of natural death and used for scientific purposes). As a result, nails have a convex-concave and rectangular shape with a rounded distal edge. Their most important characteristic feature is the verticalized striation. Microscopically, the striation may be linear or fragmented. Shape and striation are the major criteria distinguishing them from stones, bone and plastic. Pig nails also present striation but horizontally oriented contrasting with the vertical striation of human nails. This is the first detailed description of nails with different post-mortem intervals and compared with other elements found in skeletal remains.
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