2. Determination of the age with the help of ossification of the sternum

In spite of stringent ruling on compulsory birth and death registration there are many cases that do not have a birth certificate even today. It is particularly an increasing problem with advancing age above 25 years. As from around 25 years until old age there are no dramatic events as eruption of tooth or the appearance of ossification centers. In the present study 164 sternums are collected from cadavers of know age and sex. From our study we can say that if there is fusion at manubrium and body (M+B) the age is above 30 years. The Fusion of body and xiphisternum (B+X) the age is above 35 years and the Fusion of manubrium, body and xiphisternum (M+B+X) the age is above the 40 years.