Assessment of histomorphological features of the sternal end of the fourth rib for age estimation in Koreans.
The aim of this study was to assess the histomorphological features of the fourth rib and to develop age-predicting equations for Koreans. Sixty-four rib samples (36 males and 28 females) obtained from forensic cases were used for developing equations. Two thin sections (<100-microm thick) per sample were prepared by manual grinding. Multivariate analysis of covariance revealed statistically significant differences in age-adjusted histomorphological variables between sexes. Using stepwise regression analysis, osteon population density and average osteon area were correlated with unknown sex (r2 = 0.826), and sex plus two histomorphological variables provided the best results for an age-predicting equation given the assumption of knowing the sex of a specimen (r2 = 0.839). Average Haversian canal area had little influence on age estimation for male or female samples, and relative cortical area was not significantly related to age for any specimen.
Kim
Yi-Suk
YS
Department of Anatomy, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, Korea.
Kim
Deog-Im
DI
Park
Dae-Kyoon
DK
Lee
Je-Hoon
JH
Chung
Nak-Eun
NE
Lee
Won-Tae
WT
Han
Seung-Ho
SH
D000328:Adult; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton / Q000379:methods*; D017677:Age Distribution; D044466:Asian People; D005260:Female; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000379:methods*; D006253:Haversian System / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012272:Ribs / Q000033:anatomy & histology*