Adult Age Estimation - Lecture 10

Question 1

what are the age categories for adults?

Answer 1

young adult: 20-35
middle adult: 35-50
old: 50 +

Question 2

what age range does the medial epiphysis fuse in?

Answer 2

late adolescence to early adulthood

Question 3

when does the manubrium and xhyphoid fuse to the sternum

Answer 3

40

Question 4

what bones and their fusion can help with adult age estimation?

Answer 4

clavicle, sternum, sacrum, os coxa

Question 5

when does the iliac crest fuse to the ilium?

Answer 5

17-23

Question 6

when does the pubic symphysis begin to fuse?

Answer 6

23-27

Question 7

what is senescent

Answer 7

aging

Question 8

explain the phases of aging in the pubic symphysis

Answer 8

1. billowing
2. billowing slightly erodes, ventral rampart appears
3. ventral rampart and bony nodule complete
4. continuous rim formes
5. rim breaks down
6. symphyseal surface becomes porous and pitted

Question 9

explain the aging in the areas of the auricular surface (ilium)

Answer 9

• transverse organization: billows replaced by striae, then transverse organization disappears
• texture: youthful granularity becomes coarser then dense smooth bone that will eventually degenerate
• porosity: increases with age, micro then macro
• retroauricular area: starts smooth then coarser then osteophytes
• apex: thin and sharp then thicker and blunt

Question 10

why is aging with the auricular surface better for age estimation?

Answer 10

• not affected by pregnancy
• greater bone density

Question 11

what rib and what end is used for aging in the ribs

Answer 11

the sternal end of 4

Question 12

what is the scoring system for sutures aging?

Answer 12

1. open - 0
2. minimal closure -1
3. significant closure - 2
4. complete obliteration - 3