Age determination

Dr. Enas El TaftazaniProf. of Forensic medicine and

Toxicology

Introduction Why we need to learn how to estimate age ? So age can be determined by four main So age can be determined by four main

criteria:criteria: Teeth examination.Teeth examination. Secondary sexual characters Secondary sexual characters Ossification centers.Ossification centers. General development in childrenGeneral development in children Bone examinationBone examination

Stages of life and their main characteristics

Intrauterine life (during pregnancy) By ultra sonography and date of the last menstrual

period

From 0-15 days (neonatal period) By umbilical stump examination

From 15 days - 2 years(Infancy period) By primary dentition

From 2- 6 years Closure of metopic suture Appearance of ossific centers

From 6-12 years Secondary dentition

Childhood period:rapid dental and bony growth and development

Stages of life and their main characteristics

From 12- 18 (Adolescence period) Closure of epiphysial plates

Adulthood Early stage: bone remodeling and maintenance Late stage: bone wear and tear

Stages of life and their main characteristics

Appearance of ossific centers after birth

Appearance of ossific centers after birth

Appearance of ossific centers after birth

1 year : head of humerus ,femur and tibia . 2 years : lower radius and tibia. 3 years ; Patella. 4 years ; upper fibula ,greater trochanter of

femur. 5 years lower fibula 6 years ;head of radius ,lower

ulna.calcanium

Below1 year as ossific center of the head of femur not appeared.

Below 2 years (no ossific centre in the wrist)

Ossific centre at lower radius = 2 years

What is the age?

> 1 year(ossific center at head of femur <4years no ossific center of greater trochanter

What is the age?

Above 2 years. Ossific center of lower radius

Determination of age by bone examination - Sternum

What is the age?

< 15 y (non-united segments)

Determination of age by bone examination – Epiphyseal closure

Determination of age by bone examination – Epiphyseal closure

Age from upper limb examination 1)At the wrist and shoulder joint (lower ends of

radius and ulna and head of the humerus)19-20 years.

2) At the elbow region: trochlea and capitulum (14 years)-trochlea and capitulum + lower end of the humerus (15years)

3)Lat.epicondyle and head of ulna(17 years). 4)Med epicondyles and the head of the radius

(18years) 5)Metacarpals and phalanges (16 y in females and

18 years in males).

What is the age?

<17 y (completely developed elbow)

What is the age?

>19 years (united head of humerus)

What is the age?

<19 (not united head of humerus with the body)

What is the age?

>20-21years ( closed lower ends of radius and ulna)

What is the age?

< 20-21 ( non united lower ends of radius and ulna)

Less than18 ys

What is the age?

>2 years

<2 y (no ossifc center of ulna

<,18 y in female < 18 in males

What are the ages?

Less than18 more than18 less than18

What is the age?

More than20-21 more than20-21

Determination of age by bone examination – Epiphyseal closure

Age from lower limb examination

1) Lesser trochanter (16y)-----Greater trochanter (17y) ------ Head of the femur (18y).

2) Lower end of the femur + shaft (21y). 3) Upper end of the tibia +shaft (21y). 4) Lower end of the tibia +shaft (18 y). By foot examination ossific center appears at

calcanium at 6 years and union of epiphysis at the calcanium at 14 years ,so examining only this bone gives us a range of 8 years

What is the age?

>18 years (united head of femur)

What is the age?above18ys

What is the age?<21 knee

What is the age?>21 y

What is the age?

> 19 y ( ankle closed)

What is the age?

> 19 y ( ankle closed). Notice the calcaneus

What are the ages?

above18

below18

What is the age?

<14 y (not united epiphysis of calcaneus)

What are the ages?

What is the age?

<14(calcaneus) and < 18 y (opened lower ends of tibia and fibula)

Age from hip bone examination:

Two pubic rami of the hip (6y) Suture at the acetabulum (15y). Ischeal tuberosity with the ischium (21y). Iliac crest with the ilium (23y).

What is the age?

>23 y (iliac crest)

What is the age?

From4-6 Open ischial

ramus(less than6)

>4years (ossific center at greater trochanter) <15years (opened triradiate suture)

>18 y (head of femur)<23 opened iliac crest >23 y (iliac crest)

What is the age?

>4 y (ossific center at greater trochanter)<15 y

(triradiate suture is opened)

What is the age?

<23 y (non-united iliac crest)

Ages of legal importance in Egypt:

6 years. Age of education. First molar and pubic ramus

7 years Age of discrimination Central incisors.

10 years In case of divorce father claims his son. Second premolar)

Ages of legal importance in Egypt:

12 years : In case of divorce father claims his daughter Second molar This low has been changed ,where the custody of

the mother ends at 15 years for both son and daughter ,at which they are allowed to choose their custodian till age of21 for son or marriage for daughter. how can you estimate age of 15?

Ages of legal importance in Egypt:

14 years: Under this age the child cannot commit the crime of rape. Also under this age child work is not legal . Union of the trochlea and capitulum.

15 years: The child is considered partially responsible i.e. trial in front of

juvenile court Union of trochlea and capitulum with lower end of humerus.

+acetabular suture union

Ages of legal importance in Egypt:

16years: Age of legal marriage in females-identity card) Metecarpals in females.

18 years: Legal marriage in males ---legal age for consent-----

governmental employment---- driving license ----- Full criminal responsibility-------Voting.

Metacarpals with their bodies

21 years: Civil rights X - ray knee

Ages of legal importance in Egypt:

30 years Member of people assembly Sagittal suture.

35 years Legal age of the president of the public

60 years: Age of pension Union of body and manubrium of sternum

Post test

Ques. 1 Write the estimated age for the following: Pic.1

Ques 2

Above 21

Quest. 3

Less than 21

Quest 4

above18

Quest. 5

Less than18

Quest.6

Above 2 years Ossific centre of lower radius

Quest.7Which is older a or b? Less

than18

Above 20-21 Closed

Lower

Radius&

Lower

ulna

Quest.8

For more precise age estimation for the pic a I need to ask for x ray:

a) Knee

b) Ankle

c) Elbow

d) pelvis

Quest.9

For more precise age estimation for the pic b I need to ask for x ray:

a) Sternum

b) Knee

c) Shoulder

d) hip

Quest 10Suggest which picture is older a or b and why?

Below1 year(absent ossific centre of head of femur

Between1-6 Above 1 year(ossific

center

of head

femur) Less

Than6 ys

Opened

Pubic

ramus