A Prospective Autopsy based Study on Estimation of Sex from the Sternal Parameters at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital, Trichy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37506/mpxb5p30Keywords:
Sternum; sternal parameters; sexAbstract
In forensic medicine, anthropological investigation and the identification of skeletal remains and the method to be
employed for this purpose are always important. However, the partial or total destruction of long bones reduces
the possibility of successful identification. Sternum resists the effects of putrefaction and decomposition for a
long period of time. The present study was conducted to analyze the correlation between the sex and various
measurements of the sternum.
Aim and Objectives: To determine sex of an individual from the sternal measurements.
Materials and Methods: The data for this particular study was collected from the medicolegal autopsy cases
conducted at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital, Trichy. 150 intact sternums belonging to both the
sexes aged more than1 year and less than 40 years was taken as the study material.
Result: It was established that a subject may be male if the following conditions are present- The sternum’s body
is longer than 9.3 cms or more, Manubrium length is larger than 4.65 cms or more, the sternal index is 48.9 or less
and the overall sternum is longer than 14.25cms or more. If the following conditions are present, a subject may be
female - The sternum’s body is lesser than 9.3cms, Manubrium length is lesser than 4.6 cms, the sternal index is 49
and more and the overall sternum is lesser than 14.25cms.
Conclusion: In our study, the length of body of sternum can be taken as the most reliable sternal parameter for
determining the sex followed by the total sternal length. All the sternal parameters except the sternal index were
on the higher limits for males.
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