Ossification sequence polymorphism and sexual dimorphism in skeletal development

Ossification sequence polymorphism and sexual dimorphism are prevalent in the postnatal skeletal development of the hand, foot, elbow, knee, shoulder and pelvis. For some ossification polymorphisms the sex‐discriminatory efficiency is greater than 70%. Current evidence, including population comparisons, and children with kwashiorkor and marasmus, favors a genetical explanation for common sequence polymorphisms. However, ossification sequence polymorphism is more clearly defined in later‐developing children, where the appearance of ossification centers is distributed among a larger number of radiographic class intervals. This observation may explain the apparent relationship between ossification sequence polymophism and developmental delay or retardation.