Forensic Anthropology: Morphometric Study of The Sternum Using Computed Tomography Scan to Differentiate Sex Across Various Countries (Literature Review)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37859/jp.v16i1.7769
Abstract
The discovery of bodies in Indonesia is a frequent occurrence. Identifying these bodies requires determining the gender, height, and other physical characteristics to narrow down the search for the victim's identity. Computed tomography (CT) is the modality of choice for evaluating the anatomical details and pathological conditions of the sternum, sternoclavicular joints, and surrounding soft tissues. Given this issue, the researchers were interested in conducting a literature review on morphometric studies of the sternum using computed tomography scans to differentiate gender in various countries. The research method employed was descriptive observational, utilizing a literature review design from several articles published within the last 15 years. The articles selected for this study were based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the researchers. A total of 20 articles were used in this study. Conclusion, The literature review shows that the increasing number of morphometric studies, particularly in different populations, provides valuable data for researchers. CT can be utilized for the morphometric analysis of living subjects or discovered bones. If parts of the skeleton, such as the pelvis or skull, are not found or are damaged, forensic specialists and forensic anthropologists can accurately estimate gender using the sternum.
Downloads
References
Ahmed, A. A., Koko, A. O., dan Elsayed, M. M. 2021. Multi-detector computed tomography for the estimation of sex from sternal medullary cavity measurements in Sudanese individuals. Forensic Science Internasional : Reports. 4. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.fsir.2021.100244
Ahmidan, S. M. M., Ali, M. W. M., Gad, M. A. M. A. 2023. Identification of Sex from Clavicle Bone Morphometry through 3D CT in Libyan Population. The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine. 90 (2). 3534-3539. https://ejhm.journals.ekb.eg/ article_291965.html
Ali, M. I., Mosallam, W., Mostafa, E. M., Aly, S. M., & Ali, N. M. 2021. Sternum as an indicator for sex and age estimation using multidetector computed tomography in an Egyptian population. Forensic Imaging, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fri.2021.200457
Baca, K., Bridge, B., dan Snow, M. 2022. Threedimensional geometric morphometric sex determination of the whole and modeled fragmentary human pubic bone. PLoS ONE 17(4). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265754
Bedalov, A., Basic, Z., Marelja, I., Dolic, K., Bukarica, K., Missoni, S., Slaus, M., Primorac, D., Andjelinovic, S., dan Kruzic, I. 2019. Sex estimation of the sternum by automatic image processing of multi-slice computed tomography images in a Croatian population sample: a retrospective study. Croat Med J. Krosia. 60(3). 237-245. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm. nih.gov/31187951/
Chowdhuri, S., Roy, P., Dey, A., Das, S., dan Ghosh, R. 2019. A Study for the Determination of Sex by Multidetector Computed Tomography of Sternum using Discriminant Function and Logistic Regression. Arab Journal of Forensic Sciences & Forensic Medicine. 1(10):1445-1454.
Franklin, D., Flavel, A., Kuliukas, A., Cardini, A., Marks, M. K., Oxnard, C., & O’Higgins, P. 2012. Estimation of sex from sternal measurements in a Western Australian population. Forensic Science International, 217(1–3). https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.11.008
Ghorbanlou, M., Moradi, F., & Asgari, H. R. 2022. Morphometric study of sternum by computed tomography in an Iranian population: A method to discriminate between male and female. Forensic Imaging, 28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fri. 2022.200501
Indrianti, E. 2010. Antropologi Forensik, Gadjah Mada University Press. Yogyakarta
Koşar, M. İ., Uğuz Gençer, C., Tetiker, H., Yeniçeri, İ. Ö., & Çullu, N. 2022. Sex and stature estimation based on multidetector computed tomography imaging measurements of the sternum in Turkish population. Forensic Imaging, 28, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fri.2022.200495
Macaluso, P. J. 2010. The efficacy of sternal measurements for sex estimation in South African blacks. Forensic Science International, 202(1–3). https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.07.019
Monum, T., Makino, Y., Prasitwattanasere, S., Yajima, D., Chiba, F., Torimitsu, Y., Hoshioka, Y., Yoshida, M., Urabe, S., Oya, Y., dan Hirotaro, I. 2020. Age estimation from ossification of sternum and true ribs using 3D post-mortem CT images in a Japanese population. Legal Medicine, 43, 1-9. https://doi.org/10. 1016/j.legalmed.2019.101663
Mukhopadhyay PP. (2010): Determination of Sex from Adult Sternum by Discriminant Function Analysis on Autopsy Sample of Indian Bengali Population: A New Approach. J Indian Acad Forensic Med, 32(4): 321-324.
Myint tun, S., Das, S., Ruengdit, S., Singsuwan, P., & Mahakkanukrauh, P. 2015. Sex determination from different sternal measurements: A study in a Thai population. Journal of the Anatomical Society of India, 64(2), 155–161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasi.2015.10.004
Sassi, C., Picapedra, A., Alvarez-Vaz, R., Schmidt, C. M., Ulbricht, V., Junior, E. D., dan Junior, L. F. 2020. Sex determination in a Brazilian sample from cranial morphometric parameters - a preliminary study. Journal Forensic Odontostomatol. 38 (1). 8-17.
Singh, J., Pathak, R. K., & Singh, D. (2012). Morphometric sex determination from various sternal widths of Northwest Indian sternums collected from autopsy cadavers: A comparison of sexing methods. Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 2(1), 18–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejfs. 2011.12.002
Triandini, E., Jayanatha, S., Indrawan, A., Werla Putra, G., & Iswara, B. (2019). Metode systematic literature review untuk Identifikasi platform Dan metode Pengembangan Sistem Informasi di Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Information Systems, 1(2), 63. https://doi.org/10.24002/ijis.v1i2.1916
Torimitsu, S., Makino, Y., Saitoh, H., Sakuma, A., Ishii, N., Inokuchi, G., Motomura, A., Chiba, F., Hoshioka, Y., & Iwase, H. 2015. Estimation of sex in Japanese cadavers based on sternal measurements using multidetector computed tomography. Legal Medicine, 17(4), 226–231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed. 2015.01.003
Weaver, A. A., Schoell, S. L., Nguyen, C. M., Lynch, S. K., dan Stitzel, J. D. 2014. Morphometric Analysis of Variation in the Sternum With Sex and Age. Journal of Morphology. North Carolina. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.20302
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Chrisma Virginia Toisuta, Istiana Firqah Abid

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Each article is copyrighted © by its author(s) and is published under license from the author(s).
When a paper is accepted for publication, authors will be requested to agree with the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0







