Sternal index: Is it a reliable indicator of sex in the Maharashtrian population of India?

Shahin A. Hunnargi; Ritesh G. Menezes; Tanuj Kanchan; Stany W. Lobo; Selma Uysal; N. G. Herekar; Kewal Krishan; R. K. Garg

doi:10.1016/j.jflm.2008.08.004

Sternal index: Is it a reliable indicator of sex in the Maharashtrian population of India?

Shahin A. Hunnargi, Ritesh G. Menezes, Tanuj Kanchan, Stany W. Lobo, Selma Uysal, N. G. Herekar, Kewal Krishan, R. K. Garg

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

31 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Sex determination is an important initial step in forensic investigation of unknown human skeletal remains. The present analysis is an attempt to determine the sex of the sternum using sternal index as a parameter in a Maharashtrian population of India. Sternal index is calculated in 115 adult sternums of confirmed sex (75 male and 40 female) for sexual dimorphism. The sternal index is derived by dividing the length of manubrium by the length of mesosternum and multiplying it by 100. Although the sternal index is found to be significantly higher in females, the analysis suggests that sex determination cannot be made conclusively from the sternal index in the Maharashtra region of western India. The study further concludes that the applicability of Hyrtl's law in sex determination is limited.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	56-58
Number of pages	3
Journal	Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume	16
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jflm.2008.08.004
Publication status	Published - 01-02-2009
Externally published	Yes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Law

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10.1016/j.jflm.2008.08.004

Cite this

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title = "Sternal index: Is it a reliable indicator of sex in the Maharashtrian population of India?",

abstract = "Sex determination is an important initial step in forensic investigation of unknown human skeletal remains. The present analysis is an attempt to determine the sex of the sternum using sternal index as a parameter in a Maharashtrian population of India. Sternal index is calculated in 115 adult sternums of confirmed sex (75 male and 40 female) for sexual dimorphism. The sternal index is derived by dividing the length of manubrium by the length of mesosternum and multiplying it by 100. Although the sternal index is found to be significantly higher in females, the analysis suggests that sex determination cannot be made conclusively from the sternal index in the Maharashtra region of western India. The study further concludes that the applicability of Hyrtl's law in sex determination is limited.",

author = "Hunnargi, {Shahin A.} and Menezes, {Ritesh G.} and Tanuj Kanchan and Lobo, {Stany W.} and Selma Uysal and Herekar, {N. G.} and Kewal Krishan and Garg, {R. K.}",

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T2 - Is it a reliable indicator of sex in the Maharashtrian population of India?

AU - Hunnargi, Shahin A.

AU - Menezes, Ritesh G.

AU - Kanchan, Tanuj

AU - Lobo, Stany W.

AU - Uysal, Selma

AU - Herekar, N. G.

AU - Krishan, Kewal

AU - Garg, R. K.

PY - 2009/2/1

Y1 - 2009/2/1

N2 - Sex determination is an important initial step in forensic investigation of unknown human skeletal remains. The present analysis is an attempt to determine the sex of the sternum using sternal index as a parameter in a Maharashtrian population of India. Sternal index is calculated in 115 adult sternums of confirmed sex (75 male and 40 female) for sexual dimorphism. The sternal index is derived by dividing the length of manubrium by the length of mesosternum and multiplying it by 100. Although the sternal index is found to be significantly higher in females, the analysis suggests that sex determination cannot be made conclusively from the sternal index in the Maharashtra region of western India. The study further concludes that the applicability of Hyrtl's law in sex determination is limited.

AB - Sex determination is an important initial step in forensic investigation of unknown human skeletal remains. The present analysis is an attempt to determine the sex of the sternum using sternal index as a parameter in a Maharashtrian population of India. Sternal index is calculated in 115 adult sternums of confirmed sex (75 male and 40 female) for sexual dimorphism. The sternal index is derived by dividing the length of manubrium by the length of mesosternum and multiplying it by 100. Although the sternal index is found to be significantly higher in females, the analysis suggests that sex determination cannot be made conclusively from the sternal index in the Maharashtra region of western India. The study further concludes that the applicability of Hyrtl's law in sex determination is limited.

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Sternal index: Is it a reliable indicator of sex in the Maharashtrian population of India?

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

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