Abstract: ObjectiveTo assesses the skeletal development of adolescent in Yantai area, and investigates the characteristics of the tendency of their skeletal development. MethodsTotally 1180 healthy adolescents ( 574 males and 606 females ) at 10 to 20 years of age living in Yantai area were randomly selected, and their left wrist were radiated at the posterior-anterior position. The bones at wrist were scored according to the Chinese Wrist Skeletal Development Standard CHN Method. The correlation among skeletal age, chronological age and the sex were analyzed. ResultsSkeletal age positively correlated with chronological age (male: r=0.943,females: r=0.942,totally: r=0.942). ConclusionThe skeletal development of adolescent in Yantai area has the characteristic of acceleration. So it is necessary to establish a new skeletal age standard for the skeletal development of adolescent.

Key words: adolescent, skeletal age, Yantai