European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Age being one of the primary characteristics in establishing the identity of the individual, its estimation becomes an important task for the forensic expert especially in developing countries where birth records are not well maintained. In living it is not only important for identification but also for various civil and criminal purposes. Even the courts in India accept the ossification test as the reliable indicator of age as compared to physical and dental assessment of age.
This study comprised of 250 female subjects from Puducherry region, India. The age group of the subjects ranged from 14 to 19 years. Radiographs of the right wrist joint with hand of these subjects were taken and the epiphyseal union of the centres at the wrist joint and hand were noted.