Identification

By Dr/ Reham Sobhi

Lecturer of forensic medicine & clinical toxicology
Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University
Intended learning objectives:
• know different methods used in identification; clinical examination and
investigations including fingerprints and X-rays, be able to report on them.
• Identify and estimate ages of medico legal importance.
• Identify sex by bone and other tissues examination.
• Identify race.
• Analyze case scenario and solve problems related to age and sex
identification.
Definition: Recognition of a person through certain characteristic features which
differentiate him from any other person. It includes identification of :
1 .A living person .

2 .A dead body or parts of a dead body .

3. A collection of bones.

It can be:
1-Complete (Total) 2-Incomplete (Partial).

Identification is important in (MLI):

Criminal cases Civil cases

*This is carried out by police, a. Civil or personal Identification
by finger prints, Photographs and done by relatives or friends in
recently by DNA living or dead persons e.g.
*In cases of: marriage, inheritance,
-Murder, rape, disputed maternity/ paternity
-Impersonation, b. Legal Identification for unknown
-Interchange of newborns in dead body.
hospitals. *By Police and doctor

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Finger Prints (Dactylography):
The skin over finger tips, palm and foot is covered with papillary ridges on which
ducts of sweat glands open through small openings on these ridges. Fingerprint
patterns are unique even in uniovular-twins. They are developed during intrauterine
at 16 weeks. They are formed in dermis and epidermis and remain constant. They
may be masked by scars e.g. by corrosives, burns and chronic disease of the skin.
-Finger prints identification: - is made by comparing 2 finger prints (if more than
12-16 similar ridges are found, then the 2 prints are the same belonging to one
person).

Types

1. Arches: The ridges go from one side of finger to the other .

2 .Loops (most common): The ridges make a backward turn in their course from
one side to another; 2 subgroups are ulnar & radial .

3 .Whorls: Some of the ridges make one or more complete turn .

4. Composite (least common): A combination of two or more of the previous

types are found in a single print.

Proscopy:
Examination for the openings of sweat glands; for their size, shape, spacing, number
and distribution.
Other types of prints: Include palm print, foot, shoes, voice, odor, iris, ear, lip,
teeth, hard palate and DNA fingerprints.

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Methods used in identification:
I. Clinical examination:
A) Examination of clothes for
*Social standard of person * Residence: oases, farmer.
*Characteristics: ragged, stains which may point at jobs.
*Presence of letters or prescriptions.
B) Anthropometry:
*height, *span, *sitting height, *diameters of skull and lengths of different bones.
C) Clinical examination (Portrait parle)
This is descriptive method which includes color and type of hair, skin, shape of
eyebrows, voice, dialect.
* Body marks: scars of operations, moles, tattoo.
*Congenital anomalies e.g. cleft palate
*amputation, fractures or deformities.
* Mental power
* Gait abnormality.
* Also, photography (e.g. ID card or driver's license)
D) Examination of the teeth
For type, eruption and abnormalities of teeth.
II. Investigations:
I- X-Ray: Long bones, skull, mandible, sternum and pelvis to estimate age, sex,
diseases and congenital anomalies
2-Investigations of biological fluids
a. Blood:
- Blood groups and genetic markers
- DNA typing
- Identification of sex from Davidson’s bodies in polymorphnuclear cells.
- Diseases as malaria or sickle cell anemia.
b. Semen: in case of rape for identification of assailant.
3-Hand writing: in living individuals only
4- Finger Prints (Dactylography)

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 Identification of Age
Medicolegal importance of age identification
Criminal cases Civil cases
- Age of criminal responsibility -Marriage
- Age of juveniles - Full civil responsibility
-Age of consent in rape. -Elections

Age is estimated during intrauterine period and after birth:

I. Intrauterine period
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
Fetus Length 1cm (22) = (32) = (42)= (52)= 30cm 35cm 40cm 45-50cm
(Hess formula) 4cm 9cm 16cm 25cm The month is multiplied by five
Square of the month
Fetus Weight Inaccurate 1.5Kg 2.5Kg 3.5Kg

Ossific clavicle Calcenous Talus Femur Femur (0.5

Centers cm)
Hairs on scalp 1 cm 3 cm
Skin wrinkl all wrinkles
ed disappear
Finger Nails reach the project
tip of beyond the
finger nail
Position of close Interna External Scrotum
testicles to the l inguinal
kidne Inguin ring
y al
ring
Fontanelles -Posterior
fontanelle
closed
-anterior
fontanelle is
about 3 cm
fingers wide
-Umbilical 50 cm
cord 100 200 gm 300 400 gm 500 gm
-Placenta gm gm 600 gm
Skull head
dimensions circumferen
ce is 35cm,
length is
12.5 cm &
width is 10
cm.

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II- After birth: (1 st 2 weeks)
1-desquamation of skin: starts after 2 days in the chest and is completed at 14 days.
2-changes around umbilical cord:
• 1 day, hyperemia.
• 2 days, ulceration.
• 1 week, separation of the cord leaving granulation tissue.
• 2 weeks, umbilicus well formed.
3-internal changes seen in autopsy: these are changes noticed in the circulation
due to stoppage of fetal circulation
a- Umbilical arteries: completely closed by 3rd day.
b- Umbilical veins and ductus venosus: they obliterated on 4th- 5th days.
c- Ductus arteriosus: closes at birth but obliterates by 7th day.
d- Foramen ovale: it closes from 12-15 days.
Then Age can be determined from:
I- Teeth
II- Centers of ossification
III- Union of epiphysis
Teeth examination
There are 2 types of teeth: milk or deciduous teeth and adult or permanent.
Milk (Deciduous) Teeth Permanent teeth
Smaller, lighter, Bluish white in color larger, stronger, broader, greyish or yellowish white in
Number: 20 color
number: 32
Central incisor: 6 months. First molar: 6 years.

Lateral incisor: 9 months. Central incisor: 7 years.

First molar: 12 months. Lateral incisor: 8 years.

Canine: 18 months. First bicuspid: 9 years.

Second molar: 24 months Second bicuspid: 10 years.

Central incisor: 6 months. Canine: 11 years.

Second molar: 12 years.

Third molar: 17-24 years or may be impacted i.e. doesn’t

erupt.

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Medico legal importance of teeth examination:
1. Personal identification: e.g. through dental filling, irregularities, broken or
extracted teeth or dentures to be compared with files, X rays or casts at dentists
2. Estimation of age through:
- Ages of eruption of teeth.
- Attrition (wearing of the grinding surface) of the surface of the teeth in old age.
3. Identification of type and date of crime: from the site and date of abrasion and
contusions of the bite respectively.
The human bite is elliptical in shape and may give identifying evidence about the
shape and irregularities of person's teeth.
4. Identification of race: the teeth of African races (e.g. negroid) are strong, ivory
white, large and in good alignment. The upper jaw protrudes more than the lower
one (prognathism) and the hard palate is less curved (flattened).
5. Suspecting poisoning from teeth and gum:
a) Blue line on the gum margin indicates chronic lead poisoning.
b) Grey line points to chronic mercury poisoning.
6. Identification of sex.
Centers of ossification
- An ossification center is the specific location where bone tissue begins to
form. During fetal development and childhood, these centers appear as
calcium and other minerals are deposited into a cartilage template to be
ossified.
- Appears during intrauterine life and after birth
- The first primary ossification center to appear in a human fetus is in the
clavicle (at 2 month)
- Ossification begins centrally in an epiphysis and spread peripherally as it
gets bigger e.g. ossification center of lower end radius is 2/3 the breadth of
epiphysis at age of 7 years.
Union of epiphysis
Epiphyseal line:
These are present before union of epiphysis occurs. In young persons, they show as
circular grooves around ends of long bones while in X ray, they appear as irregular
lines simulating fractures.

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Age of union of epiphysis (after puberty female is 2 years earlier than male)
Age Identification
6years Pubic ramus unites with ischial ramus (hip bone)
14 years Trochlea unites with the capitulum (humorous)
15 years Trochlea and capitulum with humorous shaft
Ilium, ischium and pubic bones (Y shape) (hip bone)
16 years Lateral epicondyle of humorous with the shaft
Upper end of ulna with the shaft
Lesser trochanter of femur with the shaft
17 years medial epicondyle of humorous with the shaft
Upper end of radius with the shaft
greater trochanter of femur with the shaft
18 years Distal ends of metacarpal and phalanges with their
shaft(hand)
Distal ends of metatarsal and phalanges with their shaft(foot)
Distal ends of tibia and fibula with their shafts
Head of femur with the shaft
20 years Head of humorous with the shaft
lower ends of radius and ulna with their shafts
21 years Distal end of femur with the shaft
upper ends of tibia and fibula with their shafts
The ischial tuberosity unites with the ischium (hip bone)
23 years The iliac crest unites with the ilium (hip bone)
Sternal end of clavicle with its shaft
Basioccipital with basisphenoidal bones in the skull base
40 years The xiphoid process with the body of the sternum
Body of hyoid unites with its greater cornu.
60 years The body unites with the manubrium (sternum)

Age estimation in older years

The estimation of age after 25 years is based on :
1. The changes which take place in the permanent teeth include gradual
wearing of the grinding surface (attrition) particularly in the molar teeth.
2. The bones of the skeleton tend to become more brittle, graying of hair
and wrinkling of skin around eyes and neck.
3. Skull bones show: fusion of these bones together with disappearance of
the sutures. Closure starts on the inner surface of skull and rapidly
progresses. The frontal suture starts at 3 years then the sagittal suture

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 starts at 25 years and is complete at 30 years. It is followed by coronal
sutures which fuse at 40 years. Lastly, the lambdoid suture from 50-60
years .

Ages of medico legal importance in the Egyptian law

2 weeks (newborn):
- crime of infanticide if the infant is below this age
Identification: living: changes around umbilical cord, healing at any birth wounds.
In dead body as above, as well as changes in cardiovascular system.
6 years (age of admission to school):
- compulsory education starts at 6 years
Identification: eruption of first permnant molar teeth, union of pelvic and ischial
rami.
7 years (age of discrimination):
- child is irresponsible and cannot discriminate below this age.
Identification: eruption of central permanent incisor, ossification center of lower
end radius is 2/3 the breadth of epiphysis.
14 years:
- below this age the male is considered that he cannot commit the crime of
rape.
Identification: union of trochlea with the capitulm.
15 years:
- The child is considered partially responsible and tried in front of court of
juveniles
- Age of having identity card
- The custody of the mother ends at 15 years for both son and daughter, at
which they are allowed to choose their custodian till age of 21 for son or
marriage for daughter.
16 years:
license for motor cycle driving.
Identification:
-Male:
*Fusion of lateral epicondyle with the shaft.
*Upper end of ulna with shaft.

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-Females:
*Head of femur with the shaft.
*Lower end of tibia with the shaft.
* Epiphysis of metacarpals and phalanges with the shaft.
18 years:
- Legal marriage for females and for males.
- Age of consent of rape for females.
- Age of eligibility of having license of driving motor cars.
- Age of first call for military service.
- Age of employment in the government.
- Age of voting in the elections.
- Age of full criminal responsibility.
Identification:
-Male
*Epiphysis of metacarpals and phalanges with the shaft.
*Head of femur with the shaft.
*Lower end of tibia with the shaft.
-Female
* Head of humorous with the shaft.
* Distal end of radius with the shaft.
* Distal end of ulna with the shaft.
21 years:
- age of full civil rights including consent for medical examination.
Identification:
-Males
*Lower end of femur with the shaft.
* Upper end of tibia and fibula with their shafts.
*Epiphysis of ischial tuberosity with ischium.
-Female
*Epiphysis of iliac crest with the ilium.
*Medial end of clavicle with shaft.
*Basiocciput with basisphenoid.

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 30 years:
- age of membership for people's house
Identification: The medullary cavity of humorous reaches the surgical neck in
males
35 years:
- age of eligibility for being president of Egypt.
60 years:
- age of retirement.
Identification: union of manubrium with the body of the sternum.
Identification of sex
Examination for sex is important in (MLI):
Civil cases Criminal cases
Marriage Exchange of babies
Inheritance Sexual perversions
Criminals concealing sex
Intersex:
Presence of a mixture of both sex characteristics in an individual due to defects in
embryonic development.
It is divided into:
1-Gonadal agenesis: testes and ovaries have never developed.
2-Gonadal dysgenesis: the testes and ovaries are present but at puberty, they fail
to develop e.g. in Klinfillter syndrome, where sex chromosomal pattern is XXY
(47 chromosomes), and Turner syndrome where chromosomal pattern is XO (45
chromosome.
3-True hermaphroditism (bisexuality): the testes and ovaries are present where
neither gonad is completely functional. Somatic sex chromatin may be male or
female.
4-Pseudo-hermaphroditism: where external genitalia simulate the opposite sex
to gonad present or a mixture of both. Sex chromatin can identify whether the
individual is female or male.
Methods of sex identification:
Clothes cannot be relied upon as any person can wear any type of clothes
of the other sex.

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 Clinical examination Investigations
1-Presumptive data: external body [Link] Chromatin test:
features of both sexes Detection of Barr's body.
2- Highly presumptive data: Detection of Davidsons’ body.
*presence of uterus and vagina in 2. Detection of Y-chromosome: by staining of tissue by
females. quinacrine dye
*Presence of penis, prostate and 3. DNA for sex determination.
seminal vesicles in males 4. Gonadal biopsy.
3-Conclusive data: 5. X-rays on certain bones. Skull,
presence of gonads Pelvis, sternum and long bone.

X ray to certain bones: can differentiate sex after puberty.

1. skull
skull male Female

General features Bigger, heavier and rough Smaller, lighter and smooth
muscle attachment

Parietal eminences prominent Less prominent.

Supraciliary margins marked Less apparent

Mastoid, styloid processes massive& long Smaller, short and smooth

styloid process if present is
long and rough.

Condylar facets long and narrow Short and broad

Frontal bone Big frontal eminences and Smooth forehead which is

straight forehead. curved anteriorly.

Frontonasal junction angular curved

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Pelvis
Pelvis Male Female
General features Bigger, thicker, heavier and Smaller, thinner, lighter and

rough. less rough

True pelvic cavity Deep and narrow. Shallow and wide.

Pelvic outlet. Margins rolled inside i.e. inverted. Margins rolled outside i.e. everted.

Iliac crest. Highly arched Less arched

Greater sciatic notch Deep and narrow Shallow and wide.

Subpubic angle Acute less than 90. Obtuse above 90
Public bone Long and narrow. Short and broad

Obturator Foramen Oval Triangular

Acetabulum Deep, wide and directed Shallow, narrow and direct antero-
laterally. laterally
lliopectineal line Rough, and prominent. Smooth and rounded

Preauricular Sulcus Absent Evident in multiparas

Sacro- iliacjoint 2.5 sacral vertebrae Only 1.5 vertebrae.

Sacrum Long narrow and Short and more straight

more curved And broad.

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 Identification of race
This could be reached by certain features:
1- Color of skin.
2- Color and characters of hair.
3- Shape of the eye and color of iris.
4- Some facial characteristics.
Characters of negroid skull:
➢ Long skull = increased anteroposterior diameter of the skull
(dolicocephaly).
➢ Persistent frontal suture.
➢ Less prominent supraciliary ridge.
➢ Large and low orbit.
➢ Flat and broad nasal bone with wide nasal aperture.
➢ Flat hard palate and protruded maxilla (prognathism).
➢ Small mastoid process.
Teeth of negroids are: large, white,and in good alignment

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