Vol. 1, Issue 9, Part G (2015)

Abstract
Assessment of stature plays a substantial role while dealing with medico-legal cases. The main intention of the study was aimed at obtaining the regression formula for estimation of stature of an individual when the sex is not known by utilizing the length of manubrium, length of body of sternum and combined length of manubrium and body of sternum. The material for this study was acquired from medico-legal autopsies by the procedure of dissection and maceration of soft tissues of 100 known corpses at Tirunelveli medical college, Tamilnadu, India. The age of the corpses was between 14 years and 75 years. As an outcome of the present study, the computed regression formula in case of manubrium was Y=116.6 + 9.1x Length of Manubrium(LM) with standard error of ±7.3 and coefficient correlation 0.38 and in case of body of sternum the regression formula was Y=117.3+5.1x Length of Body of sternum(LB) with standard error of ±4.4 and coefficient correlation was 0.73 whereas regression formula Y=93.6+5.1x Combined Length of Manubrium and Body of sternum(LMB) with standard error of ±4.8 and coefficient correlation 0.78 was derived from combined length of manubrium and body of sternum. The Length of Body of sternum (LB) and combined Length of Manubrium and Body of sternum (LMB) seems to be an ultimate source in evaluation of stature. This is by taking into account the higher coefficient correlation of them. Thus, this study confirms that, Length of Body of sternum (LB) and combined Length of Manubrium and Body of sternum (LMB) are trustworthy materials in estimation of stature of an individual where the sex is not identifiable.