Determination of sex from the width and the area of human sternum & manubrium in Gujarat population

Background: Determination of sex from the skeletal remains is of immense importance in the field of forensic medicine, physical anthropometry and anthropology. Various previous studies have demonstrated sternum as an important tool for the determination of sex. Aims: Aim of the present study was to establish normal range of values for the width and the area of sternum in the studied population and evaluate the sexual dimorphism in the sternum. Material & Methods: The present study was conducted at M.P. Shah Govt. Medical College, Jamnagar on Computed tomography scans of a total of 83 adult Gujarati individuals (57 males, 26 females). The sternal width and the sternal area were measured and analysed. Results: The width of the sternum at 1st and 3rd sternebrae and sternal area were found to be larger in male and the difference was statistically significant. The sternal area was found to be the most accurate for determination of sex among all studied parameters, which accurately identified 59.63% of sterna as male and 30.77% as female by the method of identification point. Conclusion: The sternal area is the most reliable criteria for the determination of the sex of a sternum. The widths of the sternum were found to be non-accurate for the determination of sex of a sternum. The sternum of the female is on average narrower and smaller than the male sternum.