Evaluation of spheno-occipital synchondrosis: A review of literature and considerations from forensic anthropologic point of view

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Abstract

Cranial sutures and synchondrosis have long been studied by forensic scientists, human anatomists, and anthropologists for estimation of age in different population groups. Observation of the closure of spheno-occipital synchondrosis has an important role to play in the estimation of age in the examination of unknown human remains when a skull is brought for examination. The present article reviews the studies conducted on the closure of spheno-occipital synchondrosis and presents a few valuable considerations that would be essential for carrying out research related to closure of spheno-occipital synchondrosis in humans.

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Most cited references 27

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Suture closure in the human chondrocranium: CT assessment.

L A Madeline, Eric A. Elster (1995)

To chronicle the development of ossification centers, sutures, and synchondroses in the chondrocranium throughout childhood by using computed tomography (CT). One hundred eighty-nine children (age range, newborn to 18 years; median age, 4.0 years) without skull base deformity were referred for cranial CT. The closure of 18 sutures and synchondroses was graded. In the occipital bone at birth, six components were identified. The Kerckring ossicle rapidly fused to the supraoccipital bone within the 1st month. At age 1-3 years, the posterior and anterior intraoccipital synchondroses began to fuse. The occipitomastoidal, petro-occipital, and spheno-occipital synchondroses remained partially open into the teenage years. In the sphenoid bone at birth, 13 ossification centers were identified; most assimilated into the sphenoidal body during the first 2 years. Pneumatization of the sphenoid sinus appeared at age 1-2 years and advanced posteriorly over the next 3-5 years. The complex process of skull base development is chronicled, which provides CT standards for judgment of the patterns and timing of sutural or synchondrosal closure.

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Estimation and evidence in forensic anthropology: age-at-death.

Lyle W Konigsberg, Nicholas P Herrmann, Daniel J Wescott … (2008)

A great deal has previously been written about the use of skeletal morphological changes in estimating ages-at-death. This article looks in particular at the pubic symphysis, as it was historically one of the first regions to be described in the literature on age estimation. Despite the lengthy history, the value of the pubic symphysis in estimating ages and in providing evidence for putative identifications remains unclear. This lack of clarity primarily stems from the fact that rather ad hoc statistical methods have been applied in previous studies. This article presents a statistical analysis of a large data set (n = 1766) of pubic symphyseal scores from multiple contexts, including anatomical collections, war dead, and victims of genocide. The emphasis is in finding statistical methods that will have the correct "coverage."Coverage" means that if a method has a stated coverage of 50%, then approximately 50% of the individuals in a particular pubic symphyseal stage should have ages that are between the stated age limits, and that approximately 25% should be below the bottom age limit and 25% above the top age limit. In a number of applications it is shown that if an appropriate prior age-at-death distribution is used, then "transition analysis" will provide accurate "coverages," while percentile methods, range methods, and means (+/-standard deviations) will not. Even in cases where there are significant differences in the mean ages-to-transition between populations, the effects on the stated age limits for particular "coverages" are minimal. As a consequence, more emphasis needs to be placed on collecting data on age changes in large samples, rather than focusing on the possibility of inter-population variation in rates of aging.

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Analysis of time of closure of the spheno-occipital synchondrosis using computed tomography.

Richard Bassed, C. Briggs, Olaf H Drummer (2010)

Current knowledge concerning closure of the spheno-occipital synchondrosis is inadequate for age estimation purposes in that of the few detailed studies conducted, these demonstrate considerable variation concerning the age at which the synchondrosis commences and completes fusion, thus creating uncertainty for forensic investigators who may use this developmental feature for age determinations. The aim of the present study was to determine the sequence and timing of closure of the spheno-occipital synchondrosis for a large sample of a modern Australian population to assess if this age marker is a useful tool for age estimation for individuals around the age of 18 years. The sample consisted of 666 individuals in the age range 15-25 years, who were admitted to the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM) mortuary and who had undergone routine full body multi-slice CT imaging. Results show that fusion was well underway by the age of 15 years and was complete by 17 years. Fusion begins superiorly and progresses inferiorly. Persistence of a scar at the site of fusion was demonstrated through to age 25 years. After the age of 16 years there was no significant difference in progress of fusion between males and females. The study showed that this age marker is of limited value for age estimations around the age of 18 years in this population. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

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Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): J Forensic Dent Sci

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): J Forensic Dent Sci

Journal ID (publisher-id): JFDS

Title: Journal of Forensic Dental Sciences

Publisher: Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd (India )

ISSN (Print): 0975-1475

ISSN (Electronic): 0975-2137

Publication date (Print): Jul-Dec 2013

Volume: 5

Issue: 2

Pages: 72-76

Affiliations

[1] Department of Anthropology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India

[1 ] Department of Forensic Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, India

Author notes

Address for correspondence: Dr. Tanuj Kanchan, Department of Forensic Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, India. E-mail: tanujkanchan@ 123456yahoo.co.in

Article

Publisher ID: JFDS-5-72

DOI: 10.4103/0975-1475.119764

PMC ID: 3826046

PubMed ID: 24255553

SO-VID: b415834d-f64e-4ff4-881c-abcea7a2dc2e

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This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Evaluation of spheno-occipital synchondrosis: A review of literature and considerations from forensic anthropologic point of view

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Arab Journal of Forensic Sciences & Forensic Medicine (AJFSFM)

Most cited references 27

Suture closure in the human chondrocranium: CT assessment.

Estimation and evidence in forensic anthropology: age-at-death.

Analysis of time of closure of the spheno-occipital synchondrosis using computed tomography.

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