An adult hand, for example, has around twenty-seven bones, whereas in a child of ten these will be made up of at least forty-five separate parts. This makes it a good witness in establishing age in life as well as in death. As it is also easily accessible, and the most ethically acceptable part of the body to expose to the ionising radiation of X-ray, it is often used to determine whether someone presenting themselves as a juvenile for immigration or refugee purposes really is a child.
