Background: The sternum is one of the bones of the skeleton with frequently detected variation, present study
focused on morphometric study of the egyptian sternum by CT scan.
Methods: 240 CT scan film from individual aged between 10 to more than 60 years divided into 6 groups
according to age each group included 40 cases (20 males and 20 females) for estimation of the sternal parameters
which include the lengths of manubrium, sternal body , xiphoid process , the whole sternal length , detection of
the variable maturation of the sternum and the presence of sternal foramina, sex variations of results are
detected
Results: The mean length of different parts of sternum was recorded as following: manubrium was 3.8 cm in
males, 3.6 cm in females. The body length was 8.6 cm in males, 7.9 cm in females, The xiphoid length was 2.5 cm
in males, 1.9 cm in females. The total sterna length was 14.9 cm in males, 13.6 cm in females. The complete or
partial fusion of the manbriosternal junction is noticed in all the cases above fifty years. The complete or partial
fusion of the xiphisternal junction is noticed in most of subjects by the age of forty five years. The pattern of
fusion of the sternal elements has no relation to sex .The sternal foramen detected only in 8.3 % of cases.
Conclusions: Identification of sternal measurement and their anomalies such as sternal foramen has medicolegal
and forensic importance. |
