Investigation of the relationship between corpse age and microscopic morphometric indices of the fourth and sixth rib bones.

Abstract

This study was performed to estimate the corpse age using histological examinations of the fourth and sixth ribs by a morphometric method. One hundred samples of referred bodies of the Legal Medicine Organization of Lorestan province, Iran, were examined. The sampling was performed from the fourth and sixth ribs. The transverse sections of the samples were prepared, in which various variables such as the diameter of the haversian system (DHC), haversian system perimeter (PHS), haversian system area (AHS), and the thickness of the haversian lamellae (TH) were measured using a Motic microscope video system and the Motic Image Plus 2 software. To predict age from sex and the morphometric parameters a stepwise multiple linear regression was used. Accordingly, AHS in rib 4, DHC with lens 10 in rib 4, DHC with lens 10 in rib 6 and TH in rib 6 remained in the model at significance level 0.05 (R square = 0.1654). Although age was associated with some of the studied parameters, the obtained equation was not fit enough to predict the exact age. Further parameters should be studied for prediction of age in corpse.