Age determination

Question 1

What can we use on the skull to determine age and how?

Answer 1

Cranial suture closure. 0-3, 3 being fully closed

Question 2

What three late fusing epiphyses can we use to determine age?

Answer 2

Clavicle, spheno-occipital sychondrosis, sacrum vertebrae

Question 3

How can we use the clavicle to determine age?

Answer 3

Fully fused by 30, before that they would be classed as young adult

Question 4

How can we use the spheno-occipital sychondrosis to determine age?

Answer 4

closure begins at 14 in girls and 16 in boys, fully closed by 18

Question 5

How can we use the sacrum vertebrae to determine age?

Answer 5

open = <20
s1 and s2 open = <27
Fusion = >25

Question 6

How can we use the pubic symphysis to determine age?

Answer 6

• ridges and furrows distinct when young, then goes smooth, then errosion + erratic ossification
• rampart begins developing top and bottom at mid age, fully joined + complete when older

Question 7

How can we use the auricular surface to determine age?

Answer 7

(where sacrum joins)

billowing replaced by striae and then both disapear