Possible dependence of sternum non-metric features on sex, age, and stature from a forensic viewpoint: a study in an Iranian population

Morphological traits of the sternum are rarely evaluated in forensic studies. This study evaluates these features in sex-, age-, and stature-specific groups. A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted including 400 chest CT scans from 2020 to 2021 which were categorized based on three factors of sex (N = 400; male and female), age (N = 400; group 1: 20-39 years, group 2: 40-59 years, and group 3: >60 years), and stature (N = 190; group 1: 150-159 cm, group 2: 160-169 cm, group 3: 170-179 cm, and group 4: >180 cm). Non-metric parameters of the manubrium, body of sternum, and xiphoid process were investigated. Sex-related distribution of morphologic features of the manubrium in all of the participants demonstrated a significantly higher presence of the arch-shaped prominence (ASP) in males (N = 212, 94.22%) compared with females (N = 135, 77.14%). Morphologic features of the body of the sternum related to sex in all of participants demonstrated a significantly higher flat body shape (BS) in males (N = 142, 63.4%) compared with females (N = 85, 48.3%), and a significantly lower O shape BS in males (N = 5, 2.23%) compared with females (N = 19, 10.8%). Although non-metric morphological traits of the sternum represent a great variety in different studies, some of the features can be considered as possible factors specific to sex (ASP is higher in males than females), age (denticulate costal incisura is higher in <40 than >40 years), and stature (flat BS is higher in >170 than <170 cm).