Determination of sex from adult sternum by discriminant function analysis on autopsy sample of indian bengali population: A new approach.

ABSTRACT

Sex determination from skeletal remains is well studied and extensively documented subject. The sternum has drawn considerable attention in Forensic and anthropological studies. Morphological variants of sternum are well documented The present study was designed to examine the sexual dimorphism of adult sternum in a population specific autopsy sample using discriminant function analysis on 70 adult bones (35 male and 35 female). It was observed that the sternum exhibited sexual dimorphism in the study population (Indian Bengali). The following discriminant function was obtained DF = .86*Ws +1.04 * WM4 +. 77 *PCL 25.03. Overall 100 % of the cases could be correctly classified in to the two sexes from the three predictors [width of supra sternal notch (Ws), Width of sternum at level of 4th rib (WM4) and posterior curved length of sternum (PCL)] in the model. Cross-validated results showed correct classification in 100% cases. The results of this preliminary study show that sternum exhibit considerable sexual dimorphism and these variables contribute to discrimination between the two sexes in the study population. This investigation also reiterates that discriminant functions are population specific. Sexing of adult human sternum is thus possible with reasonable accuracy using the discriminant function on a sample obtained from the said population by this approach using a linear combination of new parameters.