Sexual dimorphism based on the sternum bone morphometry in human fetuses: a pilot study

Abstract

The recognition and determination of sex from fragments and remnants of human skeletons has been, until now, a complex task for forensic experts and anthropologists. For the former, it becomes crucial in cases of mass disasters, catastrophes, such as terrorist acts and wars. The study with bones of the pelvis, skull, femur and other long bones has significantly contributed to analyze the determination of sex in these situations. The study of sternum dimorphism can become one more element that may collaborate with this type of knowledge. The present study sought to investigate, in human fetuses, the sexual dimorphism of the sternum, based on its perimeter measurements, which were treated using statistical methods. For this purpose, three different observers used a digital pachymeter with a precision of 0.01mm and the average of the measurements obtained was calculated. Differences in average were evaluated using the t-test and Mann-Whitney test, as well as discriminant analysis. Findings from measurements of the sternum in human fetuses did not seem to us to be a reliable indicator of sex determination. We hope that further studies with a larger number of samples and the use of other possible techniques will also collaborate with the subject.