Anat Cell Biol.  2023 Sep;56(3):367-373. 10.5115/acb.23.024.

Forensic age-at-death estimation using the sternal junction in Thai adults: an autopsy study

• Kuatrakul A
• Vachirawongsakorn V

• KMID: 2546465
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.23.024

Abstract

One of the main parameters in the analysis of skeletal remains in forensic anthropological cases is the estimation of age. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between age and the fusion status of the sternal junction. This crosssectional study was carried out on 184 sterna from 94 females and 90 males obtained from known-age cadavers in the Thai population. By direct observation, the fusion stage of the manubrio-sternal and sterno-xiphoidal junctions was studied and divided into unfused and fused joints. The results showed that a large proportion of the sterna remain unfused throughout adulthood, with fusion observed in both young and old cadavers. Insignificant differences in the rate of fusion, the sexes and ages were observed. None of the sterna under 30 years of age in females and 32 years of age in males showed fusion of the manubrio-sternal and sterno-xiphoidal junctions. Based on the variability of the sternal fusions observed in this study, we highlighted a very limited role of the sternum alone in the estimation of age in the Thai population.

Keyword

Age estimation; Sternum; Fusion of bones; Forensic anthropology

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Photograph showing the sterna with (A) no fusion at both junctions, (B) fusion at manubrio-sternal junction but no fusion at sterno-xiphoidal junction, (C) no fusion at manubrio-sternal junction but fusion at sterno-xiphoidal junction, and (D) fusion at both junctions.

• 

  Fig. 2 Age distribution of the study population and the proportion of sterna with the fusion of manubrio-sternal and sterno-xiphoidal junctions.

Reference

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