MORPHOMETRIC STUDY OF HUMAN STERNUM TO DETERMINE THE STATURE IN MALES- AN AUTOPSY STUDY

Background & objectives: Estimation of stature is one of the significant part of medico legal proceedings. The aim of the study was to obtain regression formula for determination of stature of adult males by measuring the length of manubrium and meso-sternum. Methods: Sterna were procured from 53 males aged between 15 years to 75 years from known corpses during medico-legal autopsies at Tirunelveli Medical College, Tamilnadu, India by dissection and maceration of soft tissues. Results: Regression formula derived for manubrium was Y=160.9 + 1.04 x length of manubrium with standard error of ±4.4 and coefficient correlation is 0.15. Regression formula for meso-sternum was Y=137.1+3.1 x length of meso-sternum with standard error of ±3.2 and coefficient correlation is 0.42. Interpretation: The length of meso-sternum was found to be the ideal tool for estimation of stature since the coefficient correlation is high. Conclusions: This study proves that meso-sternum is a reliable tool to calculate the stature of a person.