ESTIMATION OF AGE FROM THE SKELETON

• Jurisdiction: Australia

Introduction ................................................................................................... [35.490]

Age estimation in foetal and juvenile skeletons ........................................... [35.500]

Age estimation in adult skeletons ................................................................. [35.510]

Age estimation by bone histology................................................................. [35.520]

Age estimation by bone radiology ................................................................ [35.530]

Osteoarthritis and age estimation ................................................................. [35.540]

Cranial suture closure and age estimation ................................................... [35.550]

[35.490] Introduction

There has been increasing interest in the study of skeletal age markers in recent years due to growing pressure on forensic practitioners to provide more accurate age estimations of unknown individuals. Age estimation is a critical component of the biological profile provided by the forensic anthropologist as, if even broad age ranges can be ascertained, then the process of narrowing the field of search of an unknown individual is greatly enhanced. This is not only the case with respect to unknown deceased but also to the increasing numbers of undocumented individuals moving across international borders resulting in the need to determine the age status of these people; particularly around the adolescent/adult cut-off point of 18 years, an important legal demarcation in many jurisdictions.

The human skeleton passes through several major stages of development and growth:

(1) At birth, rapid foetal growth is represented in the commencement of ossification and the presence, with few exceptions, of primary (diaphyseal) centres of ossification. The exceptions are secondary, or epiphyseal, centres in the distal condyle of the femur, in the proximal condyle of the tibia, and possibly in the head of the humerus. Numerous primary centres, eg at the wrist, do not form until a number of years after birth.
(2) The increasing mechanical stresses on the skeleton in the first two years of life serve to stimulate skeletal growth, ossification and remodelling. During this time new primary centres of ossification develop, and secondary centres begin to make an appearance, especially at the ends of long bones, to facilitate continued longitudinal growth.
(3) Between puberty and adolescence secondary centres start to fuse and the skeleton increasingly approaches maturity.
(4) From late adolescence (when secondary centres of ossification fuse) into middle and later life the skeleton passes through stages of active remodelling, which may leave telltale impressions on bones. This is followed by a period of

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