Correlation between various Measurements of Sternum with  Stature - An Autopsy based Study

Authors

Bhumesh Darade1 , Pawan Sabale2 , Shailesh Mohite3 , Swapnil Akhade4 , Chaitanya Kulkarni5

Stature estimation; sternum; posterior curved length of sternum; forensic anthropology.

The sternum is of crucial significance while estimating body stature. Dwight, in the late 19th century,

discussed potential use of the sternum for estimation of the stature. Various researchers have shown that

the sternum may be of use in stature assessment merely when long bones are not obtainable. The study was

conducted to analyse the correlation between the stature and various measurements of the sternum. The

posterior curved length, length of manubrium, length of mesosternum and length of sternum were measured

in 300 adult sterna. The mean length of a cadaver (Stature) was observed to be greater in males (162.34

± 8.03 cm) as compared to females (156.53 ± 8.50 cm). A positive moderate correlation (R ranging from

0.332 to 0.647) was observed between various measurements of sternum with stature in both the genders.

Sternal length shall be considered as a better parameter over other sternal measurements for estimating the

stature. However the application for utilizing the sternum for stature estimation should be restricted to the

population sample for and from which they have been developed.