Which age group is most likely to show significant differences in iliac crest fusion between genders?

The age group of 17-19 years is the most likely to show significant differences in iliac crest fusion between genders due to the timing of skeletal maturation. During adolescence, typically between these ages, individuals experience substantial growth spurts and hormonal changes that influence bone development.

For males, fusion of the iliac crest usually occurs later than in females, which is attributed to the later onset of puberty and subsequent skeletal maturation. By this age range, the differences in bone development are pronounced enough to be observed in forensic analysis, allowing for the differentiation between male and female pelvises based on the degree of fusion at the iliac crest.

In contrast, the other age groups provided may not exhibit such marked differences. For instance, in the earlier years of 13-15, fusion processes are still in their infancy, and the variation between genders is less observable. As individuals reach the ages of 20-22, most skeletal structures, including the iliac crest, are generally fused and therefore do not present significant differences attributable to gender anymore. Thus, 17-19 years is the critical period where these distinctions are most identifiable.