Age estimation by
radiological examination
Who will ask or authorize ?
Police or Court can authorize for
examination of a subject for age
estimation
When & Why ?
Civil Cases
Criminal
Marriage
Property claims
Employment
Rape
Kidnapping
The age can be determined by
1.Physical development:
Height, Weight,
Secondary sexual characters
Puberty
2.Teeth
In Living
- Eruption of Temporary & Permanent teeth
- Incremental lines
In Dead
- Gustafson’s Method
3.By bones
( appearance & fusion of ossification centres)
X- ray radiograph
4.Others
-Birth certificate
-School certificate
One can state exact age only by authenticated
birth certificate
Ossification centres
1.Primary centre ( Diaphyseal centre)
-Centre for the shaft of long bone
-Usually situated in the middle
2.Secondary centre (Epiphyseal centre)
-Ossification begins at the centre of epiphysis
like a dot, slowly grows & takes the shape of
that end of the bone
- It mainly contains Calcium
▪ The sec. centres are present for both the ends
of long bones.
Exception: The carpal & metacarpals,
Tarsal & metatarsal bones
Ribs, phalanges have only one
secondary centre
Role of radiology
✓ The appearance and fusion (union) of
ossification centres can be studied with the help
of X-rays.
✓Antero-posterior view(A.P) is better.
✓Terminologies used: Appeared or Not appeared
Fusion or No fusion
Rules for reading X-ray
✓On X-ray, fusion is seen 6 to 12 months
earlier than on an actual bone.
✓White line on X-ray does not indicate recent
union.
✓White bands may be seen in Arsenic, Lead
& Thallium poisoning.
✓All primary centres are present at birth.
✓Appearance of centre is more precise for
age estimation than their fusion.
Elbow joint
1.Lower end of Humerus:
▪ It has 4 centres.They ossify from lateral to
medial
▪ First trochlea, Capitulum unite with each
other and then with lateral epicondyle to
form “CONJOINT EPIPHYSIS”
Medial epicondyle- 5 to 7 years (A)
Capitulum-1year (A)
Trochlea - 9 to 11 Yrs (A)
Lat.Epicondyle- 11yrs (A)
14 to 16 yrs (F)
(Conjoint E)
All the centres Fuses with the shaft at 16 to 17 yrs.
Med.Epicondyle may sometimes remain un-united
for sometime
2. Upper end of Radius: 5 Yrs (A)
16 to 17 Yrs (F)
3. Upper end of Ulna:
Olecranon process- 9 Yrs (A)
16 to 17 Yrs (F)
1.Estimate the age of the person from the given
X-ray radiograph.
a) Mention the M.L importance of age 16 yrs
b) Write 4 important medico-legal importance
of age 18 yrs
How to write answer?
1) Describe the given X-RAY
-The given X-ray radiograph is PLAIN or
CONTRAST ?
- Right or Left side ?
- Bearing any number on it ?
- AP or PA view ?
In this X-ray: The given X-ray radiograph is Plain,
AP view of Elbow joint
Showing lower end of Humerus &
upper ends of Radius and Ulna
2.write the findings in the X-ray
Trait
Appearance
of centre
1.Lower end of
Humerus
a)Capitulum
1 Yr
b)Trochlea
9 to 11 Yrs
c)Lat.Epicondyle 11 Yrs
d)Med.Epico…
5 to 7 yrs
Fusion
Findings in the
given X-ray
Appeared but
14 to 16 not fused
yrs
Not appeared
16-17yrs Appeared but
not fused
Cont…
Trait
2) Upper end
of Radius
Head
3) Upper end
of Ulna
Olecranon
Process
Appearance
Fusion
(Yrs)
Findings in the Xray
5 Yrs
16 to 17 Appeared But not
fused
9 yrs
16 to 17
------
3.Opinion
I am of the opinion that the age of the person
from the given X-ray radiograph is above 5 yrs
and below 11 yrs
Wrist joint
1.Lower end of radius: 2 yrs (A)
18 to 19 yrs (F)
2.Lower end of ulna: 5 to 6 yrs (A)
17 to 18 yrs (F)
3.Carpal bones: Capitate- 2 months (A)
Hamate- 3 months (A)
Triquetral-3 yrs (A)
Lunate - 4 yrs (A)
Trapezium- 4 to 5 yrs (A)
Trapezoid- 4 to 5 yrs (A)
Scaphoid- 4 to 5 yrs (A)
Pisiform – 10 to 12 yrs (A)
Catch Her To Love Try To See Parents
4. Metacarpal bones:
First (Thumb) metacarpal has centre at its
base.
others have at distal ends ( head)
Appearance
1-1/2 to 2 ½ yrs - all metacarpals
Fusion:
Thumb -15 to 17 yrs
Other Metacarpals- 15 to 19 yrs
Pelvis
A) Upper end of Femur
Head – 1 year (A)
Greater trochanter - 4 yrs (A)
Lesser trochanter – 12 to 14 yrs (A)
All these fuse with shaft by 17 to 18 yrs
b) Hip bone (Innominate Bone)
Fusion of Ischiopubic ramus – 6 to 7 yrs
Tri-radiate cartilage – 13 to 15 yrs (F)
Iliac Crest – 14 yrs (A)
19 to 20 yrs (F)
Centre for Ischium - 16 yrs (A)
20 to 21 yrs (F)
Medico legal importance of age.
Three months:
✓ M.T.P. till this period can be done by one
doctor.
✓Above this age opinion of two doctors is
necessary .
Five months
✓Maximum period for M.T.P. procedure.
✓Above this period pregnancy can be
terminated only on the grounds of mother’s
life being in danger.
Seven months
✓> 210days/ 28 weeks– foetus is considered to
be VIABLE.
First year:
✓Till baby completes one year, it is called as
infant.
✓Killing of such baby amounts to Infanticide.
5 Years of age:
Indian railway act 1890 ( section 127- 130):
✓A child becomes responsible for his act
leading to wreckage of a train.
7 years:
Criminal responsibility:
-S.82 IPC – Any act of a child under 7 years of
age is not an offence.
- As the child below this age cannot understand
the nature & consequences of the act done.
7 – 12 years:
Section 83 IPC
✓May or may not be held criminally
responsible.
✓A child of this age is presumed to be capable
of committing an offence, if the child has
attained sufficient mental maturity to
understand the nature & consequences of
his/her act.
10 years:
Section 369 IPC:
✓It is offence to kidnap/abduct a child under
this age for the purpose of robbing movable
property from his or her body
12 years:
✓Unsworn evidence.
✓Consent for GPE.
Section 89 IPC
✓A child below 12 years of age cannot give a
valid consent to suffer any harm which may
occur from an act done in good faith and for
his benefit.
14 years:
✓According to Indian factories act;a person
below this age is child and cannot be
employed in a factory.
✓14 to 15 years of age person can be employed
in non hazardous factory jobs for a limited
time during day hours.
15 years:
Section 375 IPC
✓Sexual intercourse by a man with a girl under
15 years, even if she is his wife, amounts to
rape.
✓A person above this age can be employed in
factory like an adult, With a physical fitness
certificate.
16 years:
Section 361 IPC
✓ Taking away male below 16 yrs of age from
his lawful guardian amounts to kidnapping.
Section 376 (2) IPC
✓ Rape - woman under 16years of age
18 years:
Section 375 IPC
✓Sexual intercourse with or without consent,
when girl is under eighteen years of age
amounts to rape.
Indian majority act ( section 3 ):
✓Person attains majority on completion of 18
yrs.
Section 87 IPC
✓A person aged above 18 years of age give
valid consent to suffer any harm which may
result from an act not intended to cause
death or grievous hurt.
✓Consent for M.T.P
✓Consent for organ transplantation.
✓Marriage contract.
✓(Testamentary capacity) Make valid will.
✓Right to cast Vote.
✓Driving license.
21 yrs
✓Offence to import a girl for the purpose of
illicit sex, if her age is less than 21yrs (366 B
IPC)
✓Minimum age for marriage for males.
✓Court of wards – age of majority ( Indian
Majority Act).