Fusion status of the jugular growth plate: An aid for age at death determination

Abstract

To assess the feasibility of the fusion (synostosis) status of the jugular growth plate as an age at death indicator, a series of 98 skulls of documented age and sex from the so-called 'Utrecht collection' was examined. Ages at death in the series ranged from 14 to 92 years. Only specimens that could be inspected bilaterally were taken into account. According to the few but conflicting data from the literature, fusion happens at 16-18 years, or starts at ca. 25 years of age. In our sample no fusions were seen before the age of 22 years. Unilateral fusions were found only in the age range 22-34 years. At ages above 34 years in females and above 36 years in males all jugular growth plates were fused bilaterally. These results indicate that examination of the fusion status of the jugular growth plate is of use in age at death determination.

The elusive petroexoccipital articulation

“…Comparative radiographs indicate high agreement with the naked-eye observation. Maat and Mastwijk (1995) present results on the time fusion of the jugular growth plate that are contradictory to this study. It was therefore decided to present these results and discuss possible explanations for the discrepancies between the two studies.…”

“…It was therefore decided to present these results and discuss possible explanations for the discrepancies between the two studies. Maat and Mastwijk (1995) claim that ''. .…”

“…r 1997 Although much attention has been focused on the cranial base and its growth in both anatomical and evolutionary contexts, our knowledge of the growth pattern at the petroexoccipital articulation (i.e., jugular synchondrosis) is meager. This is surprising considering the potential of this region as an aging criterion for both forensic and paleodemographic studies (Maat and Mastwijk, 1995) and its plausible utility in understanding cranial base growth patterns.…”

Revisiting the Developmental Stage and Age‐at‐Death of the “Mrs. Ples” (Sts 5) and Sts 14 Specimens from Sterkfontein (South Africa): Do They Belong to the Same Individual?

“…Stage 3 c From the end of the adolescent growth period, that is, before, but more commonly after, M 3 eruption (Stewart, 1934;Melsen, 1969, in Scheuer andBlack, 2000), or later. From 13 to 25 years, as determined by direct inspection or from CT scans studies (Hrdlička, 1920, in Chopra 1957Madeline and Elster, 1995;Sahni et al, 1998;Veschi and Facchini, 2002;Coqueugniot and Weaver, 2007 (Maat and Mastwijk, 1995;Hershkovitz et al, 1997). No precise age can be obtained; no data on unilateral fusion are available.…”

Application of osteology to forensic medicine

“…The cartilaginous jugular growth plate (jugular synchondrosis/petro-exoccipital articulation), a small part of the occipitomastoid suture, has been studied by Maat and Mastwijk (1995) and Hershkovitz et al (1997a) in two different samples. Although the results do not entirely concur, it is obvious that this area could be useful in assigning age in the young adult.…”