Assessment of histomorphological features of the sternal end of the fourth rib for age estimation in Koreans

The aim of this study was to assess the histomorphological features of the fourth rib and to develop age-predicting equations for Koreans. Sixty-four rib samples (36 males and 28 females) obtained from forensic cases were used for developing equations. Two thin sections (< 100-mu m thick) per sample were prepared by manual grinding. Multivariate analysis of covariance revealed statistically significant differences in age-adjusted histomorphological variables between sexes. Using stepwise regression analysis, osteon population density and average osteon area were correlated with unknown sex (r(2) = 0.826), and sex plus two histomorphological variables provided the best results for an age-predicting equation given the assumption of knowing the sex of a specimen (r(2) = 0.839). Average Haversian canal area had little influence on age estimation for male or female samples, and relative cortical area was not significantly related to age for any specimen.