title: Age-at-death estimation in Caucasian females from the morphological analysis of the sternal end of the fourth rib.
abstract: The morphology evaluation of the sternal end of the fourth rib through the İşcan's "phases method" is considered one of the most reliable method for age-at-death estimation of corpses of unknown identity. This study aims to develop a component model for age estimation alternative to İşcan's method. A numerical score, ranging from 3 to 9, was assigned based on the morphology of surface (S), antero/posterior walls (W) and articular margins (M) of the sternal end of the fourth rib in 71 white female corpse. For each component a regression formula was determined. The best correlation between end rib morphology and age-at-death was obtained through the formula of multiple regression with two independent variables (articular surface and antero/posterior walls): Age (years)=6.37(S)+5.33(W)-17.15±3.3.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Medicina Legale, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, Brescia, Italy. verzelet@med.unibs.it
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verzeletti
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Terlisio
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Ferrari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008875:Middle Aged; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012272:Ribs / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult