Department of Forensic Medicine, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Smt S K Hospital, New Delhi, (India).
*Correspondance: Dr. Devinder Kumar Atal, Department of Forensic Medicine, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Smt S. K. Hospital, New Delhi-110001, India, Telephone: 91-11-23408157/23408158(O), E-mail: drdevinderatal_fmt@rediffmail.com
A post-mortem study was conducted to differentiate male and female sternum. A total of 100 sternums of adult individuals (56 males & 44 females) were obtained from the cases brought for autopsy to the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi between the periods August 2005 to March 2007. Our study concluded that the combined length of manubrium and mesosternum was the best parameter for determining sex from sternum. It was found to determine sex correctly in 91.07% male and 61.36% female specimens. The length of the mesosternum was found to be reliable in 91.07% male and 52.27% female specimens for determination of sex. However, the length of manubrium and sternal index were not found to be reliable for determining sex. By using discriminant functions, 92.9% male and 97.7% female sternum could be sexed correctly.
Sternal Index, mesosternum, descriminant function
