RESUMO
There have been several studies on the human skull, long bones, pelvis, sacrum and manubrium to establish the sex of skeletal remains. If small segment of the bone or small bone is found then it will be very difficult to identify the sex. The present study showed the sternal extremity of the fourth rib can be used in determining the sex by direct metrical analysis of an isolated 4th rib. The samples (55 males, 39 females) were obtained from individual of known age and sex and three measurements (SI, APW and PD) were taken from each rib. The sample was divided into five groups from less than 15 years to more than 60 years and was analysed by stepwise discriminant function analysis. It was found the specificity of sex determination varied from 50 % to 88.89 % and overall correct classification varied from 60% to 94%. SI was the most reliable followed by APW and APW measurement is most useful criteria for more than 60 year of age. It was therefore concluded that sexual dimorphism can be detected by direct measurement of fourth rib and this dimorphism increases with age.