Is Human Sternum a Tool for Determination of Sex?

Abstract

Background & objectives: Determination of sex is a vital part of medico-legal practice. The objective of the study was to obtain cut off values for determination of sex by measuring the length and breadth of manubrium and body of sternum. Methods: Through dissection and maceration of soft tissues, 103 sterna (53male and 50female) between 15 years to 75 years were obtained from known corpses during medico-legal autopsies at Tirunelveli Medical College, Tamilnadu, India. Results: This study revealed that it could be a male if the length of body of sternum is greater than 87mm, length of manubrium is greater than 50mm, breadth of body of sternum is greater than 38 mm, breadth of manubrium is greater than 60mm, combined length of manubrium and body of sternum is more than 136mm and sternal index is 47 or below whereas it could be of female if the length of body of sternum is less than 72 mm, breadth of manubrium is less than 48 mm, breadth of body of sternum is below 29 mm, combined length of manubrium and body of sternum is below 119 mm and sternal index is 70 or above. Interpretation: Higher percentage of accuracy is found with length of body of the sternum, combined length of manubrium and body of sternum in both sexes, whereas they are more reliable in males. Conclusions: This study proves that the sternum is a reliable bone to determine the sex of a person. Key words: Body of sternum, Identification, Manubrium, Sex