







My student noticed that the scapulae, humeri, and tibiae were mis-sided and not laid out in anatomical position. Surely, she thought, Reichs would not post a picture of herself with bones in weird positions. I harp on this in class all the time: lay out the bones in anatomical position. They have to be as close as you can get to anatomical position.





I am well aware that when you're working on a skeleton, bones get out of place and rearranged. I've absolutely confused myself before by not paying attention and putting bones back in the wrong places, then wondering why there was suddenly a new fracture on the bone. But Reichs' photo involves practically all of the bones not in anatomical position. She was looking at the posterior aspect of the arm and shoulder bones? The tibiae got misplaced? Quickly staged photo op? (But how long does it take to lay out 20 large, unbroken bones... 2 minutes tops?)





So, who needs an osteologist today? Apparently Kathy Reichs does.





huge fan of Reichs and especially her book series (which is way, way better forensically than the TV show). And thanks to *Full disclaimer -- as much as I rag on Bones in my reviews , I am afan of Reichs and especially her book series (which is way, way better forensically than the TV show). And thanks to Jennifer Waters for pointing this out - A+ osteological work!





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One of my undergraduates pointed out today a Twitter post by Kathy Reichs , the author, of course, of the Temperance Brennan book series on which the TV showis based.* Reichs' post is a throwback Thursday picture of her working in the lab at the LSJML in Montreal