Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine (IAFM) - Official website of IAFM

J Indian Acad Forensic Med. Jan- March 2012, Vol. 34, No. 1 ISSN 0971-0973
Case Report
Assessment of Age in Foetus: A Medicolegal Aspect
*Jaswinder Kaur, **Zora Singh, ***Rajiv Joshi
Abstract
A Medicolegal case of embryo/foetus was received from the department of forensic medicine for
the assessment of age of the foetus. The report for the assessment of age was prepared on the basis of
gross appearance, radiological and histological examinations. On radiological examination of the limb
tissue, the age of the foetus /embryo was approximately 3 months. The ossification centres for metatarsal
bones were visible which appear at the 10 th week of intrauterine life. Also on USG the femur length was
found to be 10 mm which also suggests the age to be around 3 months. The smooth junction between the
epidermis and dermis suggests age of the embryo/foetus to be less than 3 months because the epidermal
ridges and dermal papillae become prominent at the end of 3 rd month. From the basal layer of epidermis
down growths were seen which were suggestive of growth of hair follicles. Hair follicles become
prominent by the 10 th week of intra uterine life which again reveals that the age of foetus is around end of
3 rd month. From the observations, the age of the foetus was found to be more than 2 and half months but
less than 3 months i.e. between 10-12 weeks.
Key Words: Embryo, Age assessment, Histology, Radiology, Ossification Centres
Introduction:
Embryology is the study of intrauterine
development of an individual. The development
is divided into stages, i.e. embryonic and foetal.
Embryonic stage covers first two months while
the foetal period of development runs from 3 rd
month to birth. Embryonic period is important as
there is development of organs and different
systems of the body which give the foetus a
human look. [1] Forensic anthropology is
affected by the unavoidable limits concerning
difficulties in standardization of methods and
procedures. Age estimation is one of the main
tasks of forensic anthropology and odontology
both on the dead and the living. [2]
The process of development is ordinarily
divided into two sets of sequential changes
called embryogenesis and organogenesis.
Although embryogenesis has been extensively
explored, the literature related to organogenesis
appears relatively deprived of adequate scientific
attention. Gestational age is the age of unborn
baby. Proper assessment of foetal well-being
requires an accurate knowledge of gestational
age of the foetus. [3]
Corresponding Author:
* Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy,
Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences & Research,
Barnala Road, Bathinda, Punjab 151001
E-mail: jaswindpreet@gmail.com
**Prof & Head, Dept. of Anatomy
GGS Medical College, Faridkot
*** Associate Professor, Dept. of Forensic Medicine
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Age assessment in foetus is important
from the medico-legal aspect in cases of criminal
abortion, infanticide, still born or dead born baby,
fabricated abortion, marriage, divorce, adoption,
inheritance etc. [4]
Observations & Results:
A case of an unknown piece of embryo
was received from the Department of Forensic
Medicine of GGS Medical College, Faridkot for
age assessment. The obtained tissue looked like
the fragmentary remains of placental
tissue/endometrial tissue, along with one upper
limb and two separate lower limbs.
One of the lower limbs appeared
complete and the other only as lower part. Digits
in the feet were webbed but had nails grown up
to the tips of the toes and the nails were soft. No
other part of embryo was identifiable. Nor was
the sex of the foetus identifiable from any part of
these remains. The assessment of age was
prepared on the basis of following points:
Gross Appearance:
Formalin fixed sealed jar was received
from the Department of Forensic Medicine. Two
lower limbs and one upper limb were there in the
jar. One lower limb was with thigh and leg while
the other was having only leg part. In the feet
toes were webbed and the nails were present.
As the nails were apparent and considering the
fact that the nails start appearing at the end of
3 rd month of intrauterine life, the age is around
end of 3 rd month of intrauterine life.