Ch.9 Estimation of Age of Death

The timing of epiphyseal unions is used to determine the age of individuals from

10 to 25 years of age.

On average, all deciduous teeth are in occlusion by ________ years of age.

3

Tooth eruption sequences used to age subadults are generally most accurate up to _______ years of age.

4

On average, the first permanent molar erupts at age

6 years

Referring to the above figure, the mastoid fontanel is

A

An individual whose pubic symphysis has distinct billows and ridges

A. is likely to be younger than 30.

The best data for determining age at death for both male and female subadults are

A. length measurements from long bone radiographs

A fourth rib whose sternal end is U-shaped with a sharp, thin-walled rim

B. is likely to be 70 or more years old.

If a skeleton is found to have fusion of both epiphyses of the clavicle, then

E. B and D only B. it is unlikely that an accurate age can be determined by epiphyseal unions. D. the sacrum may not yet be fused.

Tooth formation (calcification) stages have been developed for

E. all of these A. deciduous teeth. B. permanent teeth. C. single rooted teeth.

The main skeletal elements that can be used for timing the union of primary centers of ossification for age determination are the

E. all of these A. skull. B. mandible. C. atlas.

Methods for determining age at death from the subadult skeleton include:

E. all of these A. the dental eruption sequence. B. long bone lengths. C. epiphyseal union.

Cranial suture closure is probably the most accurate method of age determination for adults.

False

Fusion of the mandible and the frontal bones is usually complete by the first year.

False

One advantage of using the appearance of ossification centers to determine age is that they usually survive in forensic settings.

False

Radiographs are not very useful for determining the extent of epiphyseal fusion.

False

The epiphyses of the metacarpals and phalanges appear by 2 months of age.

False

The human deciduous dental formula is 2122.

False

The lack of third molar eruption indicates an indivudual is definitely less than 18 years of age

False

The morphology of the pubic symphysis is one of the most accurate methods for determining age of a subadult.

False

The sternal rib-end technique for age determination can only be used on the fourth rib.

False

The timing of epiphyseal union for determining skeletal age is especially accurate because an epiphysis takes only a day or so to fuse to the diaphysis.

False

An individual with complete closure of the incisive suture and partial closure of the posterior median palantine and transverse palantine sutures is most likely a young adult.

True

At birth, the ossification of the cranial bones is incomplete.

True

Cranial suture closure for age determination was initially studied in the 1920s.

True

One advantage of using the auricular surface for age determination is that it is often preserved in forensic cxases.

True

The auricular surface undergoes a series of age-related changes that are analogous to those of the pubic symphysis.

True

The dental eruption sequence has been used to estimate the skeletal age of fossil humans.

True

When using the pubic symphysis for age determination, it is necessary to first determine the sex of the skeleton.

True

Relative to males, females tend to be __________ in their epiphseal union times.

about 2 years ahead

Referring to the above figure, B is pointing to the

anterior fontanel

The problems associated with using dental calcification schedules to determine age include:

calcification can only be viewed on x-rays.

After birth the accuracy of age determined from long bone lengths

decreases with increased age.

The first permanent tooth to erupt is usually the

first molar

Predicting age from long bone lengths is most accurate

for prenatal remains.

The first deciduous teeth to erupt are usually the

incisors

The metopic suture joins which two cranial bones together?

the frontals

The timing of the eruption of which tooth is most variable?

third permanent molar

Timing the fusion of the elements of the axis (body, dens, arch) is useful for age determination

up to age 5