RT Journal Article SR Electronic A1 Rejtarová, Olga A1 Slížová, Dáša A1 Šmoranc, Pavel A1 Rejtar, Pavel A1 Bukač, Josef T1 Costal cartilages - a clue for determination of sex JF Biomedical papers YR 2004 VO 148 IS 2 SP 241 OP 243 DO 10.5507/bp.2004.050 UL https://biomed.papers.upol.cz/artkey/bio-200402-0031.php AB Mineralization and ossification in the human costal cartilages were studied radiologically. The aim of our study was to evaluate differences between males and females with respect to patterns of costal cartilage calcification and also with respect to ageing. Material for this study consists of 1044 chest and abdominal radiograms of the Czech population from the Department of Radiology (537 males and 507 females). Further radiograms of 18 chest plates were obtained at routine necropsy of cadavers. The radiograms were examined for pattern of ossification of the costal cartilage. The first rib cartilages were not considered because there are no sex differences. The lower ribs exhibit sexual dimorphism. Mineralization and ossification changes appear at the end of puberty and their occurrence increases with age. The sexual difference in pattern of human costal cartilages is statistically significant and thus highly predictive of sex determination.