When a skeleton or isolated bones are received for medicolegal examination, one should be able to determine:
- Whether the bones are human or not;
- Whether they belong to one or more persons;
- The age of the individual;
- The sex;
- The stature and
- The time and cause of death.
1 Estimate of Skeleton Age
Up to the age of 25 years, the skeletal age can be estimated to within 1-2 years of correct age by the states of dentition and ossification, provided the whole skeleton is available. From 25 years onwards, the skeletal age can be estimated to within ± years of the correct age by the state of cranial sutures and of the bony surfaces of symphysis pubis.
In general, the appearance of secondary centres and fusion of epiphyses occurs about one years earlier in females than in males. These events are also believed to occur 1-2 years or 2-3 years earlier in India than in Western countries.
2 Estimation of Sex
Sex can be determined after the age of puberty. Sexual differences are best marked in the pelvis and skull, and accurate determination of sex can be done in over 90% cases with either pelvis or skull alone.
However sexual dimorphism has been worked out in a number of other bones like sternum, atlas and most of the limb bones.
Estimated of Height
Trunk and limbs show characteristic ratios among themselves and in comparison with total height.
Height can also be determined from parts of certain long bones from head length and from foot measurements. CR length has been corrected with diaphysial length of foetal bones and with the neonatal and placental parameters.
Estimation of Race
It is of interest to anthropologists. A number of metrical (like cranial and facial indices) and nonmetrical features of the skull, pelvis, and certain other bones are of racial significance .
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