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Background: Even in this modern era of advanced knowledge in medical science, still the human skeleton holds its medicolegal importance in forensic anthropology as before. The forensic pathologists still face the dilemma to identify and opine whether the skeletal remains are of human or not along with estimation of the relatively correct age, sex, and height of the specimen available. Innumerable scientific literature is not unavailable in forensic anthropometry for the identification of human skeletons. The examination of the human skeleton is an integral part to serve medico-legal purpose. The pivotal step of forensic investigation usually starts with the sexual differentiation of the adult human bone. The whole skeleton helps to identify the sex of bone (male/female) with almost 100% accuracy. This current pilot study is an attempt of finding morphometric relationship between sex and predefined transverse linear measurements of adult sternum. Materials And Methods: Following the approval of the institutional ethical committee, the research was carried out on 64 adult human sternums that were selected based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: In the current study, the study population comprises 38 (59.4%) males and 26 (40.6%) females, selected through the complete enumeration method. Among total 64 cases of the present study 28(43.8%) cases are from 18-39 years age group and 22 (34.4%) cases are from 40-59years age group 14(21.9%) cases are from 60-90years. Predefined transverse linear parameters i.e. Manubrium Width and Mesothermal Width_ both found to be greater in Male sex. Independent t -test also suggested that the sex-wise differences also found to be statistically significant (<0.001) Conclusion: Transitioning from a morphological approach to a morphometric analysis for sex determination based on the sternum is expected to minimize subjective variability, allowing for subsequent refinement and enhancement through more detailed methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In a demographically diverse, vast, and highly densely populated developing country like India, the establishment of the identity of a deceased poses great medico-legal importance. It also poses a great challenge to the forensic pathologist working in an environment where decomposition and taphonomic processes are rapid. Structurally bones resist common degradation and putrefactive changes and remain longer as material for evidential value. Human skeletal remains, which are found under suspicious circumstances and doctors examining them need to give an opinion in the court of law. Forensic experts are often consulted regarding the identification of skeletal remains. One of the important bones that helps to determine sex is the Sternum Bone. For this purpose, a technique will be highly appreciated for the determination of sex from the morphometry of the sternum. This current pilot investigation was designed to determine the sex from the adult human sternum from predefined vertical linear measurements. Materials And Methods: After getting institutional ethical committee clearance, the study was conducted over the 64 adult human sternums screened through the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: In the current study, the study population comprises 38 (59.4%) males and 26 (40.6%) females, selected through the complete enumeration method. Among total 64 cases of the present study 28(43.8%) cases are from 18-39 years age group and 22 (34.4%) cases are from 40-59years age group 14(21.9%) cases are from 60-90years. On considering sex, it is found that the mean length of manubrium in male(52.44mm) is greater than that of female (45.19mm). The mean length of body in male(98.44cm) is greater than that of female (83..20cm). Most importantly unstandardized canonical discriminant function was estimated using two pre-defined vertical linear measurements as independent variables (Manubrium Length-ML and Mesosternum Length-SL) as :- D= (0.211* ML) + (0.37* SL) -13.845. CONCLUSION: A paradigm shift from morphological to morphometrical determination of sex from sternum will help to reduce the subjective variation to an extent that can be modified and sophisticated later through more thorough detailing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]