Analysis of Age-at-Death Estimation Using Data From a New, Modern Autopsy Sample-Part II: Sternal End of the Fourth Rib

• NCJ Number: 232558
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 55 Issue: 5 Dated: September 2010 Pages: 1152-1156
• Author(s): Kristen M. Hartnett, Ph.D.
• Date Published: September 2010
• Length: 5 pages
• Grant Number(s): 7284
• Sponsoring Agency: Forensic Sciences Foundation; Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research; Ellis R. Kerley Forensic Sciences Foundation
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Presented at the 59th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, February 22, 2007, in San Antonio, TX.

Annotation

This research tests the accuracy of age-at-death estimation from the sternal end of the fourth rib.

Abstract

Age was estimated using the Iscan and Loth casts and written descriptions. The correlation results indicate that there are significant differences in the observed versus actual ages (r = 0.75329, p less than 0.001) and that there are significant interobserver differences. Intraobserver tests showed that no significant differences were found within observers. Results of the rib end analysis compared to the results from the pubic symphyses suggest that the rib performs better than the pubic symphysis in age estimation. The rib ends were sorted based on morphology without prior knowledge of age. Summary statistics were calculated for each new phase, and descriptions were created. A variant form of the rib end was described, and the previously understated feature of bone quality was emphasized. (Published Abstract)