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Stature Estimation from Sternal Length in Korean Cadavers

  • Anatomy & Biological Anthropology
  • Abbr : Anat Biol Anthropol
  • 2025, 38(4), pp.283~290
  • DOI : 10.11637/aba.2025.38.4.283
  • Publisher : 대한체질인류학회
  • Research Area : Medicine and Pharmacy > Anatomy
  • Received : September 28, 2025
  • Accepted : December 24, 2025
  • Published : December 31, 2025

Digud Kim 1,  CHOI YU JIN ORD ID 2,  Park Kwang Rak ORD ID 3,  Cho Jae Ho ORD ID 4,  Hyung Wook Kwon 1,  Yunil Choe 1,  Park Jeong Hyun ORD ID 1

1강원대학교 의과대학 해부학교실
2경기북부경찰청
3상지대학교 한의과대학
4한림대학교 의과대학

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Stature estimation is an important aspect of physical anthropology and forensic science, especially when long bones are missing or fragmented, necessitating alternative skeletal indicators. The sternum, due to its location in the chest, is relatively resistant to damage and may be useful in forensic identification. However, no research for stature estimation using the sternum in Korean population has been reported. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the relationship between sternal length and stature and propose equation of statue estimation in Korean population. 56 formalin-fixed Korean adult cadavers (38 males, 18 females, mean age 79.2±10.3 years) were used for this study. The length of manubrium (M), length of body (B), and combined length of sternum (CL) and the stature were measured. Descriptive statistics for all variables were calculated, and comparisons by sex were analyzed using independent samples t-test. The correlation between sternum length and stature was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation analysis. To prove the measurement variables with the highest correlation and their effects on stature, simple linear regression analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were used to derive a regression equation for estimating stature. Both B and CL showed significant positive correlations with stature in males, females, and the total sample (p<0.05). B showed the highest correlation (males R = 0.748, females R = 0.573, total R = 0.719) and showed the lowest standard error of estimate (SEE) in regression analysis, indicating the highest accuracy. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that combining B and CL increased accuracy in males and in the total sample. This study proposed the first regression equations for stature estimation from sternal length in Koreans. In particular, B was the most powerful candidate for stature estimation in Koreans. For male, Stature = 1218.964 + 5.110 × B - 0.634 × CL, and for female, Stature = 1367.617 + 2.232 × B - 0.202 × CL. This formula may be more appropriate and useful in forensic identification and anthropological research for the Korean population.

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This paper was written with support from the National Research Foundation of Korea.
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