Abstract

Background: Examination of any bone is important for identification of deceased and estimation of age. The present work is an attempt to study the sternum in the purview of existing parameters of the determination of age. It includes a study of fusion of manubrium with mesosternum, sternal segments, fusion of Xiphoid process with mesosternum in relation to age. Materials and Methods: The present study was carried upon 65 sternums(46 Males and 19 Females). Sternum from cadavers in the Department of Anatomy and Sternum from Autopsy bodies in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, People’s College of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bhopal. (MP). Results: Study concluded that Fusion of sternebrae starts at the age of 20 years in male and Fusion of sternebrae starts at the age of 20 years in female. Fusion is completed at the age of 40 years in male and 45 years in female. If complete fusion in males, age is above 40 years and If complete fusion in females, age is above 45 years. No opinion was possible from the incidence of ‘no fusion’. Conclusion: Our study concluded that the fusion of sternum was reliable for determining age.

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