Aims and objectives: The study is aimed to evaluate the relationship between age and degree of fusion among- a) manubrium and mesosternurm, b) xiphoid process and mesosternurm secondly to obtain regression formulae from the above, in males and females. Materials & Methods: A total of 100 sterna (50 males and 50 females) were collected from subjects of known age. The data was statistically analyzed for the relationship between fusion of joints and ages and regression equations were obtained, separately for males and females. A combined regression equation for both the sexes together, was obtained for use in situations where the sex of sternum is not known. Results: The mean age for onset and completion of these joints were calculated, followed by their regression equation for males and females respectively. Combined regression equation was also calculated for use where sex of the person is not known. Regression equation for age from grade of fusion between manubrium and mesosternum (Grade M) & between xiphisternum and mesosternum (Grade X) was Age = 28.151 + 8.599 Grade M + 3.403 Grade X. Regression equation for age from grade of fusion between manubrium and mesosternum (Grade M) & between xiphisternum and mesosternum (Grade X) was Age = 25.816 + 5.021 Grade M + 5.296 Grade X. For both sexes, regression equation for age from grade of fusion between manubrium and mesosternum (Grade M) & between xiphisternum and mesosternum (Grade X) was Age = 26.710 + 7.170 Grade M + 4.284 Grade X.

Key words: Sternum, Sternal joints, Degree of fusion, Age estimation.