Sex differences in the morphology of the distal humerus in Ming and Qing Dynasties population in North China / 解剖学报

Objective To explore the feasibility and accuracy of sex determination by morphology of the distal humerus in North China population. Methods Observing sexually dimorphic differences of olecranon fossa shape, trochlear symmetry, trochlear constriction and angle of medial epicondyle. Each characteristic was divided into three categories: male, unknown and female. The morphological characteristics of the humerus of 70 individuals (35 males and 35 females) from the Ming and Qing Dynasties in North China were counted to compare the occurrence rate of different categories of distal humeral morphology and the accuracy rate of sex determination. Results There were statistically significant differences in the performance of the four traits of the distal humerus between males and females. The accuracy rate of angle of medial epicondyle was the highest at 76%, while the lowest accuracy rate of trochlear constriction was only 52%. The accuracy of the combined four traits was higher than the single ones, with an accuracy rate of 76% (83% for males and 68% for females). Conclusion Distal humerus morphology can be used to determine sex when skulls and pelvis are absent.

Osteoscopic Assessment of Sexual Dimorphism in Hip Bone.

Introduction: Th e pelvis is most sexually dimorphic and is the fi rst bone assessed in sex determination because it is the skeletal element most aff ected by reproduction and parturition.1 Th e assessment of the pelvis is made through metric measurements as well as through the visual analysis of non-metric traits; both important aspects of the analysis. Th e best methods for determining sex from adult skeletal remains involve measurement and inspection of the hip bone that presents a number of gender-related anatomical diff erences.2 Most osteologists visually (stereoscopic) evaluate these diff erences and integrate this subjective assessment ofhip bonemorphology into their sex determinations. Th e aim of thepresent study is to visually evaluate sexual diff erences in hip bone and comparing its effi cacy with metric assessment. Methods: Th is study is done on 46 hip bones of adult individuals of known sex from museum of department of anatomy of SGRRIM&HS Dehradun and TMMC&RC Moradabad, India. All these hip bones were visually examined and under mentioned fi ve characters of the hip bone were used, (A) aspects of the preauricular surface, (B) aspects of the greater sciatic notch, (C) the form of the composite arch, (D) the morphology of the inferior pelvis, and (E) ischiopubic proportions. Results: In this study traits of the group (A) were most sexually dimorphic while traits of the group (E) were least sexually dimorphic. Conclusion: Diagnostic accuracy is excellent when the complete hip bone is available. Hip bone features used for sex determination by visual assessment seem to be fairly stable.