title: Assessment of histomorphological features of the sternal end of the fourth rib for age estimation in Koreans.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Anatomy, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, Korea.
authors: Yi-Suk
authors: YS
authors: Kim
authors: Deog-Im
authors: DI
authors: Kim
authors: Dae-Kyoon
authors: DK
authors: Park
authors: Je-Hoon
authors: JH
authors: Lee
authors: Nak-Eun
authors: NE
authors: Chung
authors: Won-Tae
authors: WT
authors: Lee
authors: Seung-Ho
authors: SH
authors: Han
mesh_terms: 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*