Radiography of the Pubic Radiography of the Pubic Symphysis: A Method for Symphysis: A Method for

Aging Human Skeletal Aging Human Skeletal RemainsRemains

Patricia SherinPatricia SherinQueens College of the City University of New Queens College of the City University of New

YorkYorkMARC U-Star Program – NIH fundedMARC U-Star Program – NIH funded

Methods for Aging Human Methods for Aging Human Skeletal RemainsSkeletal Remains

(Meindl and Lovejoy 1985)

<20

20-30

30-40

40-50

Methods for Aging Human Methods for Aging Human Skeletal RemainsSkeletal Remains

(Meindl and Lovejoy 1985)

(Lovejoy 1985)

Methods for Aging Human Methods for Aging Human Skeletal RemainsSkeletal Remains

(Işcan and Loth 1986)

Using Using Os coxa Os coxa to Estimate Age to Estimate Age at Deathat Death

Auricular Surface of os coxa (Lovejoy et al. 1985)

Using Using Os coxa Os coxa to Estimate Age to Estimate Age at Deathat Death

Pubic Symphysis of os coxa (Gilbert 1973; Gilbert and McKern 1973; McKern and Stewart 1957; Meindl et al. 1985; Suchey 1979;

Todd 1920 and 1921)

Model of Trabecular Model of Trabecular StructureStructure

Transverse Pubic Bundle

Superior Oblique Pubic Bundle

Inferior Oblique Pubic Bundle

Vertical Pubic Bundle

Pubic S

y mphysis M

argin

Ramus of the Ischium

Superior Ramus of the Pubis

Radiography of the Pubic Symphysis: Radiography of the Pubic Symphysis: A Method for Aging Human Skeletal A Method for Aging Human Skeletal

RemainsRemains Dense lattice of Dense lattice of

trabecular structuretrabecular structure Homogenous Homogenous

architecturearchitecture No areas of high No areas of high

radiolucency / radiolucency / radiodensityradiodensity

No transverse No transverse organization is seenorganization is seen

Stage I (ages 17-24):

377

Radiography of the Pubic Symphysis: Radiography of the Pubic Symphysis: A Method for Aging Human Skeletal A Method for Aging Human Skeletal

RemainsRemains Loss of trabecular Loss of trabecular

architecturearchitecture Overall mesh becomes Overall mesh becomes

less dense less dense Transverse organization Transverse organization

becomes discernablebecomes discernable Density of Vertical Pubic Density of Vertical Pubic

Bundle declines slightlyBundle declines slightly Transverse Pubic Bundle, Transverse Pubic Bundle,

Superior and Inferior Superior and Inferior Oblique Pubic Bundle are Oblique Pubic Bundle are equally well definedequally well defined

Stage II (ages 25-34):

196

Radiography of the Pubic Symphysis: Radiography of the Pubic Symphysis: A Method for Aging Human Skeletal A Method for Aging Human Skeletal

RemainsRemains Progressive reduction of Progressive reduction of

the Vertical Pubic Bundle the Vertical Pubic Bundle and Inferior Oblique and Inferior Oblique Pubic Bundle, especially Pubic Bundle, especially in the superior portionin the superior portion

Transverse organization Transverse organization becomes better definedbecomes better defined

Transverse lines of Transverse lines of increased radiolucency increased radiolucency seen, but are uncommonseen, but are uncommon

Stage III (ages 35-49):

566

Radiography of the Pubic Symphysis: Radiography of the Pubic Symphysis: A Method for Aging Human Skeletal A Method for Aging Human Skeletal

RemainsRemains Inferior Oblique Pubic Inferior Oblique Pubic

Bundle preserved Bundle preserved mostly in its inferior mostly in its inferior portionportion

Trabeculae develop Trabeculae develop irregular oscillationsirregular oscillations

Mesh is no longer Mesh is no longer visiblevisible

Stage IV (ages 50-60):

573

Radiography of the Pubic Symphysis: Radiography of the Pubic Symphysis: A Method for Aging Human Skeletal A Method for Aging Human Skeletal

RemainsRemains Coarse and Coarse and

somewhat irregular somewhat irregular organizationorganization

A few well defined A few well defined trabeculae groups, trabeculae groups, interspersed with interspersed with large areas of high large areas of high radiolucencyradiolucency

Stage V (ages 60+):

1220

Testing of MethodTesting of MethodMale Ranking Female Ranking

Female MorphologyFemale Morphology

289r 1288r

Progressors vs. Non-Progressors vs. Non-progressorsprogressors

1363 538

Black Female age 14 Black Female age 65

Males vs. FemalesMales vs. Females

1400 63rr

Black Male age 68 Black Female age 102

ConclusionsConclusions

Predictable age related changes in the Predictable age related changes in the trabecular structure of the human pubic trabecular structure of the human pubic symphysissymphysis

Changes in trabecular structure can be Changes in trabecular structure can be particularly useful for estimating the age of particularly useful for estimating the age of older adultsolder adults

Accuracy of this method is greater for Accuracy of this method is greater for males than for femalesmales than for females

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Dr. Ekaterina PechenkinaDr. Ekaterina Pechenkina Dr. Zakeri, Ms. Matassov and Dr. CrollDr. Zakeri, Ms. Matassov and Dr. Croll Dr. Sara StinsonDr. Sara Stinson Marc U-Star ProgramMarc U-Star Program Department of Anthropology of Queens Department of Anthropology of Queens

CollegeCollege