[A] AGE ESTIMATION:

WHY?
1. Age : 7 years- Criminal responsibility- S. 82 of IPC
2. Age:12- years Consent of child
3. Age : 14 & 15 years- Employment
4. Age: 16 years- Rape, sports events
5. Age: 18 years- Majority , Consent to suffer harm,
Marriage( female) ,College admissions,
6. Age 21 years- Marriage( male)
7. Age : 58 years- Retirement from services
WHEN?
Requisition by:
Individual/ relative/ employer Police Court

For administrative purposes Criminal cases civil & criminal cases

Employment( 14,15 & 58) 7- Criminal responsibility Civil disputes

16- victim of rape of property,
18- JJ Act/ IPC & Cr PC succession,
contract etc.

Medical officer
HOW TO UNDERTAKE?

A. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:
1. Consent
2. Marks of identification – at least two, preferably of exposed parts
3. Female attendant- in case of female
PARAMETERS:
1. Proposed age , age group in question
2. Height, weight
3. Body hair- scalp, face, axillary, pubic
4. Secondary sex characters
5. Voice, Pomum Adami, Arcus senilis
B. DENTAL EXAMINATION:
- Age of mixed dentition= 6 to 12 ( both temporary & permanent)
- Eruption 1 yr earlier in female than males
- Superadded- no deciduous - erupt behind temporary - all molars-6 in each jaw
--Succesional- in place of temporary-10 in each jaw – all except molars
TEMPORARY TEETH PERMANENT TEETH

Each jaw = 4 incisors+2 canines+ 4 molars / 4 incisors+2 canines+ 4 PM + 6 molars

C.RADIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION:
Bones are preformed in hyaline cartilage.
This soft tissue structure is gradually converted into hard ossseous
structure by the process of osteogenesis.
The process of APPEARANCE & UNION FOLLOW a sequence &
time, which is being utilised for this exercise.
RULE: 1- Ossification starts at the center of epiphysis & spreads to periphery.
RULE:2- In female it is 1 year earlier than male( long bones)
RULE:3- Long bone – primary centers at diaphysis & secondary centers at
epiphysis at BOTH ENDS. In Humerus, at proximal end 3 centers appear during
childhood, unite with each other and later fuses to diaphysis.
RULE:4- Meta carpals, metatarsals, phalanges, ribs & clavicle have center at one
end ONLY.
STABILITY IS EXCEPTION & VARIABILITY IS THE RULE
Stages of appearance of center of ossification and union
X-Ray pelvis with femur: age between 13 to 15 years

Tri radiate cartilage in

acetabulum not fused
( A>13, NF<15)

Greater trochanter(A>4,NF<17-18) Head of femur(A>1, NF<17-18)

X-Ray pelvis with femur: age between 13 to 14 years

Iliac crest
(NA<14)

Tri radiate
cartilage in
acetabulum not
fused
( A>13, NF<15)

Greater
trochanter(A>4,NF
<17-18)

Head of femur(A>1, NF<17-18)

X-RAY ELBOW( lateral and AP): age between 11 to 16 years

Olecranon of
ulna(A>9,NF<16-
17)

Head of
radius(A>5,NF<16-
17)

Lateral epicondyle of
humerus(A>11, NF<14-16)
X-RAY wrist & Hand( lateral and AP): age between 11 to 17 years

Phalanges
(A>3, NF<15-18)

Distal ends of
2-5 MC(A>3,
NF<15-19)

Proximal end of 1st

Metacarpal(A>3,
Pisiform (A>11)
NF<15-17)
Lower ends of radius &ulna(A>5, NF<17-19)
X-ray of knee joint: Age between 14 to 19 years

Lower end of
femur(Primary, NF<18-
19)

Patella –
completion
(>14)

Upper ends
of tibia &
fibula(A>4,
NF<18-19)
X-Ray pelvis with femur: age more than 17 years

Head of femur( A>1F>17-18)

Greater trochanter(A>4,F>17-18)

Lesser trochanter( A>12-14, F>17-18)

EXAMPLE-1: Age group 7 year is in question:
[A] PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:
Height , weight, absence of secondary sex characteristics.
[B] DENTAL EXAMINATION:
Temporary- First molar, canine , second molar
Permanent- First molar, Central incisor, ( lateral incisor ?)
[C] RADIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION:
PART APPEARANCE/ FUSION
1. Elbow: Head of radius( A: 5, F:16 )
Med. Epi. Of Humerus( A: 6-7,F:14)
Olecranon of ulna( A:9, F:16)
EXAMPLE-2: Age group 14 year is in question:
[A] PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:
Height , weight, beginning of secondary sex characteristics.
[B] DENTAL EXAMINATION:
Temporary: NO.
Permanent: All except 3rd molar
[C] RADIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION
PART APPEARANCE/ FUSION
1. Elbow Lat Epi Con of humerus( A:11,F:14-16 )
Med. Epi. Of Humerus( A:6-7,F: 14-16)
Olecranon of ulna, Head of radius(A:9, F: 16-17 )
 PART APPEARANCE/ FUSION
2. Pelvis Tri radiate cartilage in acetabulum(A:13, F:15)
Iliac crest: (A:14, F:19-21)
Ischial Tuberosity ( A:16, F-20-21)
Lesser Trochanter( A:12-14, F:17-18)
EXAMPLE-3: Age group 15 year is in question:
[A] PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:
Same as age group 14
[B] DENTAL EXAMINATION:
Same as age group 14, only findings will be different
[C] RADIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION
Same as age group 14. only findings will be different
EXAMPLE-4: Age group 16 year is in question:
[A] PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:
Height , weight, moderately developed. secondary sex characteristics.
[B] DENTAL EXAMINATION:
All permanent teeth except the third molar(24)
[C] RADIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION
PART APPEARANCE/ FUSION
1. Elbow Lat Epi Con of humerus( A:11, F:14-16 )
Med. Epi. Of Humerus(A:6-7, F: 14-16)
Olecranon of ulna, Head of radius( A:9,F: 16-17 )
 PART APPEARANCE/ FUSION
• Pelvis Tri radiate cartilage in acetabulum(A:13, F:15)
Iliac crest: (A:14, F:19-21)
Ischial Tuberosity ( A:16, F-20-21)
Lesser Trochanter( A:12-14, F:17-18)
3. Wrist & hand L/E of radius(A:2, F:18-19) & Ulna(A;5-6, F:17-18)
Metacarpals & phalanges(A: primary, F:15-18)
EXAMPLE-5: Age group 18 year is in question:
[A] PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:
Height , weight,well developed. secondary sex characteristics.
[B] DENTAL EXAMINATION:
All teeth except 3rd molar( may be present even)- Impacted molar
 [C] RADIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION

PART APPEARANCE/ FUSION

1. Elbow Lat Epi Con of humerus( A:11, F:14-16 )
Med. Epi. Of Humerus(A:6-7, F: 14-16)
Olecranon of ulna, Head of radius( A:9,F: 16-17 )
2. Wrist & hand L/E of radius(A:2, F:18-19) & Ulna(A;5-6, F:17-18)
3. Pelvis Iliac crest: (A:14, F:19-21)
Ischial Tuberosity ( A:16, F-20-21)
Head of femur( A:1, F:17-18)
Greater trochanter ( A:4, F:17-18)
Lesser Trochanter( A:12-14, F:17-18)
EXAMPLE-6: Age group 21 year is in question:
[A] PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:
Height , weight,well developed. secondary sex characteristics.
[B] DENTAL EXAMINATION:
All teeth except 3rd molar( may be present even)
[C] RADIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION
PART APPEARANCE/ FUSION

1.Pelvis Iliac crest: (A:14, F:19-21)

Ischial Tuberosity ( A:16, F-20-21)
Head of femur( A:1, F:17-18)
Greater trochanter ( A:4, F:17-18)
Lesser Trochanter( A:12-14, F:17-18)
2. Chest Inner end of clavicle( A:18-19, F:20-22)
EXAMPLE-7: Age group 58 year is in question:
[A] PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:
Arcus senilis & others
[B] DENTAL EXAMINATION:
Falling of few tooth
[C] RADIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION

PART APPEARANCE/ FUSION

1. Chest (lateral view) - Body with xiphi sternum(A:
Primary,F:40)
- Manubrium with body(A:Primary,50)
2. Neck ( AP&Lateral view)- Greater Cornu of Hyoid (F:40-60)
- Completion of ossification of both lamina
of
 :OPINION:
1. From General examination we conclude a particular age group:
Infant, child, adult, middle aged, elderly.
2. From dental examination we narrow down the Age Range in a
particular age group.
3. From Radiological examination Such Age Range is further
narrowed and what is opined is a range expressed in plus or minus
terms. I.e. 19±1 years
OPINION: From the Physical, dental & radiological examinations of
XYZ , I am of the opinion that the individual is aged
about_______ years.
[B] EXMIANTION OF SLELETAL REMAINS
1.Whether animal or human in origin?
-- Comparative Anatomy & precipitin test.
2.Whether belongs to a single individual or more than one?
-- Anatomical reconstruction.
3. What is the sex ?
-- Pelvis, mandible & skull more reliable.
4.What is the age?
5.What is the stature?- Long bone length X Factor
6. If a bone is in more than a piece- whether CUT/ SERRATED/ natural
disarticulation
7.Evidence of injury- Ante mortem or post mortem?
8.Time since death.
 SAMPLE COLLECTION:
1.PRECIPITIN TEST: For species identification( Human / Animal)
2. At least one representative from each PIECE.
3. Tooth – for blood grouping & DNA typing.
4. Hair with root- Chemical analysis- I.e. Arsenic & other chronic
5. Long bone- chemical analysis, DNA typing, Diatom Test
6. Skull with Mandible – for super imposition.
OPINION:
Available human remains belongs to a single male/ female aged about
__ yrs, having stature of _____.
 There is evidence/ no evidence of any ante mortem injury over
available parts of skeleton.