Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
Skeletal age of individuals with Down syndrome
Mari Eli Leonelli de Moraes1, Jefferson Luis Oshiro Tanaka, Luis Cesar de Moraes
1Discipline of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, São José dos Campos (UNESP), Brazil. eli@fosjc.unesp.br
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to assess the skeletal age of Brazilian individuals with Down syndrome (DS) using the method of Greulich and Pyle. Forty subjects with DS between the ages of 6 and 16 years were studied and compared to a control sample of children without DS. The statistical analysis showed that at the age of 7 years the skeletal age (SA) of the individuals with DS was delayed in relation to their chronological age (CA) (SA < CA). On the other hand, at the age of 15 years, their SA was advanced in relation to their CA (SA > CA). An evaluation of the results suggests that the period of adolescent development for individuals with DS was shorter. These individuals reach the completion of bone maturation earlier compared to individuals without DS.
Related Concept Videos
Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
Meiosis vs. Mitosis
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...
Introduction to the Skeletal System
Components of the Skeletal System
Bone, or osseous tissue, is a hard connective tissue that forms an internal support structure for the human body. Bones shield vulnerable organs and soft tissue from external forces. For example, the vertebral bones protect and support the spinal cord.
Cartilage, a semi-rigid connective tissue found in regions such as...
Karyotyping
The Effect of Aging on Tissues

