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The utility of sternum in creating a biological profile: A review and future directions

Czech version

Authors: Katarína Hanzelyová;  Filip Babiak;  Ján Bajaj;  Martin Janík;  Ubomír Straka
Authors‘ workplace: Ústav súdneho lekárstva a medicínskych expertíz, Jesseniova Lekárska Fakulta Univerzity Komenského, Martin
Published in: Soud Lék., 69, 2024, No. 1, p. 6-9
Category: Review

Overview

This review delves into the forensic utility of the sternum in creating a biological profile, focusing on sex, stature, and age estimation. Emphasizing the sternum’s significance in challenging scenarios, the study supports the combined length of the manubrium and sternal body as a crucial indicator in sex and stature estimation. However, it highlights the need for caution in applying findings across diverse populations and questions the reliability of Hyrtl’s law. Age estimation, primarily based on morphological changes and ossification ages, is explored, with one study showing promise but requiring further validation. While acknowledging the sternum’s advantages, the review underscores potential limitations and the absence of specific studies on ancestry estimation, leaving this aspect open for future research. In conclusion, the review provides a comprehensive overview of the sternum’s forensic applications, urging continued research to enhance accuracy and applicability.

Keywords:

Sternum – sex estimation – stature estimation – age estimation – biological profile

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Labels
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