There exist several methods used for assesing the degree of maturation and many of them are of great clinical importance (e.g. age at the time of menstruation, dental age, sexual characteristics). Bone age is therefore the only indicator of development which can be used from birth to adult age. For assessment of bone age several methods are used: evaluation according to Greulich-Pyle’s atlas and Tanner-Whitehouse’s method, furthermore e.g. the CASAS and FELS methods. In the submitted paper these methods are described in more detail and discussed from the aspect of data in the literature as well as the authors’ experience with some of them. The authors considered TW2 RUS as the best method. It would be ideal to elaborate national standards.

        Key words: assessment the degree of maturation - bone age - TW2 method - Greulich-Pyle’s atlas