Abstract: Objective To establish staging criteria for teenager′s skeletal growth by examining osteoarticular X-rays. Methods Review publications on skeletal growth staging systems by domestic and overseas authorities. Abided by the staging principles on theory of cartilage epiphyseal growth and X-ray images of skeletal growth, X-ray imaging characteristics were studied through three hundred male and female teenagers epiphyseal growth of both sternal ends of clavicle and the left side of shoulder, elbow, carpal, hip, knee and ankle joints transversally and longitudinally. The subjects were from 11 to 20 years old, selected from Henan, Hainan and Zhejiang province in China. Twenty-four skeletal growth indexes were selected closely related to age. Results Based on regular changing characteristics of epiphyseal growth at different joints, 24 skeletal development indexes were divided into 2 to 8 stages. The stage number of different indexes of the single joint were similar. It was shown that the time of different epiphyseal growth in identical joints had isochromism. Conclusion These staging criteria have merits of extensive skeletal growth indexes, and are applicable to wide age range with a strong maneuverability. It provides a favorable fundamental platform for forensic evaluating skeletal age in living subjects in China.

Key words: forensic anthropology, teenager, skeletal age, X-ray, epiphysis, stage of skeletal growth