Age Estimation from the Closure of Cranial Sutures

 

Sutures Examined

 

ectocranial (16) external surfaces:

(1) midlambdoid, left

(2) midlambdoid, right

(3) lambda

(4) obelion

(5) anterior sagittal

(6) bregma

(7) midcoronal, left

(8) midcoronal, right

(9) pterion, left

(10) pterion, right

(11) sphenofrontal, left

(12) sphenofrontal, right

(13) inferior sphenotemporal, left

(14) inferior sphenotemporal, right

(15) superior sphenotemporal, left

(16) superior sphenotemporal, right

 

endocranial (7) internal surfaces:

(1) midlambdoid, left

(2) midlambdoid, right

(3) lambda

(4) midsagittal

(5) bregma

(6) midcoronal, left

(7) midcoronal, right

 

palatine (4):

(1) incisive

(2) anterior median palatine

(3) transverse palatine

(4) posterior median palatine

 

Examination of Sutures

 

One centimeter long segments of each suture are scored for percent closure. Evaluation may be aided by the use of a light and magnifying lens.

Scoring Criteria	Points
no observable closure	0
1 - 50% closure	1
51 - 99% closure	2
100% closure in the observed segment	3

 

Equations

 

age (r^2 = 0.51, inaccuracy 10.6 years) =

= 0.71 * SUM(points for all 27 sutures)

 

age (r^2 = 0.56, inaccuracy 9.6 years) =

= (5.86 * (ectocranial left pterion)) + (6.42 * (endocranial bregma)) + (4.91 * (transverse palatine)) + 24.3

 

age of females (r^2 = 0.65, inaccuracy 8.6 years) =

= (5.29 * (ectocranial right midcoronal)) + (7.38 * (ectocranial right pterion)) + (8.84 * (palatine transverse)) + 26.8

 

age of males (r^2 = 0.61, inaccuracy 8.6 years) =

= (7 * (ectocranial left pterion)) - (6.08 * (ectocranial anterior sagittal)) + (6.83 * (ectocranial right superior sphenotemporal)) + (9.12 * (endocranial bregma)) + 28.3

 

age of black females (r^2 = 0.86, inaccuracy 5.3 years) =

= (8.11 * (ectocranial right pterion)) + (6.58 * (endocranial bregma)) - (7.61 * (palatine incisive)) + (9.25 * (palatine transverse)) + 35.5

 

age of black males (r^2 = 0.72, inaccuracy 6.8 years) =

= (9.5 * (ectocranial left inferior sphenotemporal)) + (10.27 * (endocranial right midcoronal)) - (14 * (palatine incisive)) + (7.34 * (palatine anterior median)) + 50.8

 

age of white females (r^2 = 0.80, inaccuracy 5.9 years) =

= (9.78 * (ectocranial right midlambdoid)) + (12.27 * (ectocranial obelion)) + (9.93 * (ectocranial left sphenofrontal)) - (12.94 * (endocranial midsagittal))+ 40

 

age of white males (r^2 = 0.61, inaccuracy 8.2 years) =

= (15.01 * (ectocranial left pterion)) - (6.76 * (ectocranial anterior sagittal)) + 37.9