ABSTRACT
Estimation of age and determination of sex are very important in forensic medicine. The present study aimed to detect the reliability of age estimation and sex determination based on lumbar vertebral measurements of some Upper Egypt population. Evaluation of the lumbar indices in 121 cases [63 males, 58 females: 26 - 48 years old] was clone. For lumbar vertebrae [L2 and L4], anterior height, central height, posterior height and anieroposierior diameter measurements [H[a], H[c], H[p] and D respectively] were performed by MRI. These measurements were used to calculate the anterior wedge index [H[a]/ H[r] the biconcavity index [H[L]/ H[p]] and the compression index [H[r]/ D]. The values of each of the three indices far both lumbar vertebrae of females were higher than those of the same vertebrae in males. The H[t]/H[p] and H./H[]r] ratios were increased by increasing age for both L2 and L4 In males and females. While, Hp/D decreased with age at L2 and L4 in females only. Regarding to changes in these indices with age, in males for L2, the value of anterior wedge index [H[a]/H[p]] was statistically significant [p