Abstract: The stature and the sternal length and their relationship were studied in 1585·young students of the Han Nationality (863 males and 722 females) in Xian in 1980. The age range was 16 to 24.
The results are as follows: 1. The stature and sternal length increase with age before the age of 20 in male and of 21--22 in female. The speed of the sternal growth in proportion is faster than that of the stature, and is faster in female than in male.
The variation coefficient of the sternal length is greater than that of the stature, and that of the stature in male is greater than in female, but that of the sternum in female is greater than in male. The stature and the sternal length show a significant sexual difference.
2. The sternal length is about 10% of the stature, but this percentage varies with age and sex and is larger in female than in male.
The stature-sternal length index increase with age and is larger in female than in male. However, there is no significant sexual difference except the groups of 16 and 21--22 years old.
3. The correlation coeffients between the stature and the sternal length indicate a significant degree of correlation. Therefore, the sternal length can be used to estimate the stature of youn'g students of the Han Nationality in Xian based on the regression equation.

Key words: Sternal length; Stature; Xian; Han nationality