Sternal index: Is it a reliable indicator of sex in the Maharashtrian population of India?

Sex determination is an important initial step in forensic investigation of unknown human skeletal remains. The present analysis is an attempt to determine the sex of the sternum using sternal index as a parameter in a Maharashtrian population of India. Sternal index is calculated in 115 adult sternums of confirmed sex (75 male and 40 female) for sexual dimorphism. The sternal index is derived by dividing the length of manubrium by the length of mesosternum and multiplying it by 100. Although the sternal index is found to be significantly higher in females, the analysis suggests that sex determination cannot be made conclusively from the sternal index in the Maharashtra region of western India. The study further concludes that the applicability of Hyrtl's law in sex determination is limited.