Determining Age using Determining Age using BonesBones

Epiphysis Epiphysis – end of long bone– end of long bone Epiphysis lineEpiphysis line-growth plate-growth plate FusedFused – bones joined together – bones joined together

X-ray of Bone GrowthX-ray of Bone Growth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWmndDDE_jw

What to Look For?What to Look For?

If the person is If the person is youngyoung:: **LengthLength of the bones (height) of the bones (height)

**Growth plate Growth plate (epiphyseal line)(epiphyseal line)Different bones fused at different times in our livesDifferent bones fused at different times in our lives

**Status of the teethStatus of the teeth

Young or Old?Young or Old?

What to Look For?What to Look For?

In people over In people over 2020:: Epiphysis on sternal end Epiphysis on sternal end

of of clavicleclavicle is last is last epiphysis to fuse at epiphysis to fuse at approximately approximately 30 years30 years

What to Look For?What to Look For? Over 30Over 30::

Look for Look for deteriorationdeterioration Less dense bonesLess dense bones More porous bonesMore porous bones

Normal X-ray

Osteoporosis X-ray

Best Bone for Age?Best Bone for Age?

The pelvis!The pelvis!

Ischium and PubisIschium and Pubis

Ischium and pubis Ischium and pubis are almost are almost completely united completely united ((7-8 years7-8 years))

Ileum, Ischium Ileum, Ischium and Pubisand Pubis

Ileum, ischium Ileum, ischium and pubis are and pubis are joined together joined together ((13-14 years13-14 years))

Ileum, ischium Ileum, ischium and pubis fully and pubis fully ossified (no ossified (no epiphyseal epiphyseal unions) (unions) (20-25 20-25 years)years)

SacrumSacrum

Two lowest Two lowest segments of segments of sacral sacral vertebrae vertebrae are joined are joined together together ((18 years)18 years)

All All segments of segments of sacrum are sacrum are united (united (25-25-30 years)30 years)

Back View of SacrumBack View of Sacrum

Head and TuberositiesHead and Tuberosities

Head and Head and tuberosities tuberosities are more are more defined at defined at birth and birth and join to join to become one become one epiphysis (6 epiphysis (6 years)years)

CondylesCondyles

Radial head, Radial head, trochlea and trochlea and external external condyle condyle blend to unite blend to unite with shaft with shaft (16-17)(16-17)

Internal Internal condyle condyle unites with unites with shaft (18)shaft (18)

Upper EpiphysisUpper Epiphysis

Upper Upper epiphysis epiphysis unites with unites with shaft (20)shaft (20)

Changes in FemurChanges in Femur Parts of the FemurParts of the Femur

TrochantersTrochanters

Greater trochanter Greater trochanter appears at age 4appears at age 4

Lesser trochanter Lesser trochanter appears at ages appears at ages 13-1413-14

Head, greater and Head, greater and lesser trochanters lesser trochanters join the shaft at join the shaft at age 18age 18

CondylesCondyles

Condyles Condyles join shaft join shaft at age 20at age 20