A Prospective Autopsy based Study on Estimation of Sex from the Sternal Parameters at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital, Trichy

In forensic medicine, anthropological investigation and the identification of skeletal remains and the method to beemployed for this purpose are always important. However, the partial or total destruction of long bones reducesthe possibility of successful identification. Sternum resists the effects of putrefaction and decomposition for along period of time. The present study was conducted to analyze the correlation between the sex and variousmeasurements 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 casesconducted at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital, Trichy. 150 intact sternums belonging to both thesexes 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 bodyis longer than 9.3 cms or more, Manubrium length is larger than 4.65 cms or more, the sternal index is 48.9 or lessand the overall sternum is longer than 14.25cms or more. If the following conditions are present, a subject may befemale - The sternum’s body is lesser than 9.3cms, Manubrium length is lesser than 4.6 cms, the sternal index is 49and 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 fordetermining the sex followed by the total sternal length. All the sternal parameters except the sternal index wereon the higher limits for males.