Histological Age Prediction from the Femur in a Contemporary Dutch Sample^*

Abstract

This paper presents an uncomplicated and minimally invasive method for age-at-death determination in a contemporary Dutch (West European) population, by modifying the approach of assessment based on the age-related remodeling of bone tissue. In contrast to the usual "osteon count," a "non-remodeled tissue count" is undertaken. To optimize the method, proper zeroing of the polarization filter set of the microscope is essential. Instructions for setting the filters are given. A sample of femoral shaft segments totaling 162 individuals with ages ranging from 15 to 96 years is analyzed. Subperiosteal quantitative assessments are recorded at the most anterior point of the femoral shaft and also at points 25 degrees to the left and to the right of that point. Interobserver agreement in the assessments shows an acceptable degree of correlation. Bone remodeling with age does not progress in a linear, but in a curvilinear manner. Dependence of predicted age on nonremodeled surface counts in the analyzed areas of the anterior cortex of the femur appears to be significant. A set of regression equations is given. Sex can be ignored in age prediction. The small but statistically significant dependence of predicted age on cadaver length corresponds with the present strong secular increase in stature in the Netherlands. A concise catalogue with micrograph examples for every 10-year period in life is available upon request.

Cortical bone histomorphology of known‐age skeletons from the Kirsten collection, Stellenbosch university, South Africa

“…As such, they provide limited information about cortical bone tissue response during adulthood. Some systems of age estimation rely on the assessment of percent remodeled bone (Ahlqvist and Damsten, 1969; Kerley and Ubelaker, 1978; Thompson, 1979, 1981; Maat et al, 2006). If secondary osteon size is as globally variable as it appears to be, that approach may be just as efficacious, at least in principle.…”

Age at death estimation from bone histology in Malaysian males

“…1 The anterior midshaft of femur was also widely used to study age prediction histologically. 11,12 Various factors such as genetic, biomechanic, and environmental factors are known to have a major contribution to the morphology and microstructure of bone in the population. 13 The type of physical activity and metabolic and biochemical needs of the body in response to bone formation could lead to a distinctive bone microstructure and bone mass.…”

Estimación Microscópica De Edad a Partir De La Zona Cortical Del Fémur en Individuos Adultos: Revisión Metodológica

“…En el campo antropológico y forense, el análisis histomorfométrico ha sido y es común-mente aplicado en la estimación de la edad a la muerte (Kerley, 1965;Singh y Gunberg, 1970;Stout, 1988;Ericksen, 1991;Yoshino et al, 1994;Watanabe et al, 1998;Vasallo, 2000;Cho et al, 2002;Maat et al, 2006;Nor et al, 2006;Han et al, 2009;Gomes et al, 2014), en estudios tafonómicos y diagenéticos (Bell, 2012), diferenciación taxonómica (Hillier y Bell, 2007;Martiniaková et al, 2006;Mulhern y Ubelaker, 2012;Crescimanno y Stout, 2012), análisis de actividad ocupacional y biomecánica (Robling y Stout, 2008;Skedros, 2012) entre otros.…”