Identification of sex from sternum bone and the role of C.T in sex estimation

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Forensic and toxicology department, faculty of medicine, sohag university

2 forensic medicine and clinical toxicology , faculty of medicine , sohag university

3 Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, sohag University, Sohag, Egypt

Abstract

Personal identification is a subtle perception and often one of the most significant
priorities in the investigation of criminal cases, mass disasters and in forensic concerns. Sex
determination is an important step in personal identification which can be done from bones
examination either from their metric measurements or radiograph images especially in
difficult identification as dismemberments, mutilations and explosions. In such cases the
forensic examiner can depend on bone measurements. The best result of sex determination is
achieved by accessing the entire skeleton, Skeletal remains traditionally used for gender
identification (pelvis, long bones, and skull) are commonly restored in fragmented or states.
When the entire skeleton is present, identification of age and sex can be done with 80% to
100% accuracy. The sternum is one of these bones which are being commonly used for sex
identification either by direct measurement of dried sternum bones from dead bodies or
indirect measurement of images taken from chest radiographs. Studies on sternal length for
sex determination were done mostly on cadaveric dissections and recently some studies have
utilized radiological measurements also

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