It Is Time the Sternum Gets a New Name.

Names of objects change over a period of time. New words come up to keep in line with innovations and technology. Neologism requires that the new word entrant should be concise, phonetically strong and resemble the function towhich thewordmay be used. Internet language is the latest invention inwhich theword has been so abbreviated that at times the user is frightened that its continuous usage would finally obliterate the real word. To counter that threat old-timers adopt duality in action, i.e., they would use internet language while using internet portfolio and would revert to the old language while scripting text. However, in certain cases it is better to discard the old robe in favor of new when the coined word would instill more confidence and is in harmony to the function it is required to perform. In this way the word is remembered accurately and used with finesse. Presented in this paper is the strong defense for change of the word “sternum” to “saber” and reason why this change is desired.

Radiological age estimation from sternum.

Introduction: Verification or determination of the age is prerequisite for personal identification in living as well as dead and age estimation is one of the important tasks for a medico-legal practice. Skeletal examination is important for identification of an individual either living or dead especially for the estimation of age. Material and Method: In the present study, authors have tried to work out the criteria for determination of age of the deceased with the help of sternum. Authors have studied 109 sterna procured from the cadavers with known age brought for post-mortem examination at the civil hospital, ahmedabad. Fusion of manubrium and xiphoid process with the body of sternum was studied radiologically. The data thus collected, were analysed statistically and conclusion was drawn. Result: According to the present study, for males, the age of fusion between xiphisterum and body of the sternum is at 42 years, for females, the age of fusion between xiphisterum and body of the sternum is at 44 years. In males, the fusion at manubrio-sternal starts at the age of 50 years and it completes after the age of 59 years but the exact age for complete fusion at manubrio-sternal joint could not be defined. Amongst females, the cases showing first degree fusion are seen increasing from the age of 54 years and complete fusion after the age of 64 years. But here also the exact pattern could not be defined. Conclusion: Estimation of age by radiology will be of very much helpful to the medicolegal experts in determining the age of unknown deceased as well as skeletonised remains.

Estimation of age in the living municipal employees in the age group of 25-45 years by physical and radiological examination.

Employees from government and local self-government bodies come to Departments of Forensic Medicine for age estimation for the purpose of permanent employment. According to the rules and regulations of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) and court orders, they are confirmed as permanent employees after a specified duration of temporary service. The age criterion is very important as regards their dates of retirement and service benefits. But because of low socioeconomic status & illiteracy, most of these employees have no documentary evidence of their birth dates. Their age, therefore, remains a mystery to be solved. The human body develops very fast in the first 20 years of life, but growth slows thereafter. There is precious little information on the estimation of age in the later years, resulting in the lack of reliable methods for this purpose. A sincere attempt to arrive at a fairly conclusive range of age with respect to changes in physical features, especially graying of hair, wrinkling of skin and radiological evaluations of fusion of components of the sternum and changes in the teeth and mandible with respect to mandibular canal seen in an oral orthopantomogram was contemplated.