Age Estimation from Clavicle by Histomorphometry Method: A Review

Histomorphometry method, the quantitative study of histology, is a useful method to estimate age of death in the present and ancient skeletal remains by measurable morphology of osteon. This method, which reduces individual bias and difference in  the  level  of  experience  for  estimation  of  age,  is  useful  for  constructing paleodemographic  models  and  forensic  identifications  when  adult  fragmentary skeletal  remains  are  encountered.  Most  parts  of  skeletons  that  are  studied  by histomorphometry  method  are  femur,  tibia,  rib,  and  clavicle.  Clavicle  bone  has been poorly studied except for Caucasian populations. Moreover, clavicle is a very interesting bone because it is a non-weight bearing bone, is usually found as entire bone and has different bone development from other long bones. Thus, the interest of  this  review  article  is  on  the  age  estimation  by  histomorphometry  method  of clavicle. This review article also describes the histomorphometry method, clavicle bone, bone remodeling, and forensic application of clavicle with histomorphometry method.