Differential development of the ribs – Exploring the unexplored

Abstract

Age estimation is a crucial aspect of establishing the biological  profile of an individual, which has profound medicolegal  1,2 significance in the living as well as the dead. In the living, age  estimation is routinely assessed in a variety of situations  including cases of cross border migrations, asylum seekers,  refugees, underage solicitation, assigning criminal  responsibility and eligibility to participate in sporting events  3-7 among many others. However, despite this eclectic mix of  modern applications, age estimation has a more traditional  evidence base in the analysis of deceased individuals for the  purpose of establishing identification in the context of a  medico-legal investigation.