A study of sexual dimorphism of femoral head in Gujarat region.

Various diameters of head of femur have been in use for sex determination. These diameters vary region wise also. Therefore we undertook the study in Jamnagar region of Gujarat. Maximum diameter of the femoral head was measured in 184 dry, normal, adult, human femora (136 male & 48 female) obtained from M. P. Shah Medical College Jamnagar Gujarat. Mean Values obtained were, 43.75 and 40.33 for right male and female, and 43.88 and 40.64 for left male and female respectively. Higher value in male was statistically highly significant (P< 0.001) on both sides. The data was subjected to demarking point (D.P.) analysis. Maximum head diameter identified 11.90% of right male femora and 7.25% of left male femora; in female it identified 4% of left female femora while it was not useful (0.00%) for right female bone. Though the sex of the bone can be determined from head of the femur bone, in itself it is far from conclusive.

Sexual dimorphism of bicondylar width of Femora.

Background: Sexual identification from the skeletal parts is very important medicllegaly as well as anthropologicaly. Present study aims to ascertain values of femoral bicondylar width and to evaluate its possible efficacy in determining correct sexual identification.Methods: Study sample consisted of 184 dry, normal, adult, human femora (136 male & 48 female) from skeletal collections of Anatomy department, M. P. Shah Medical College, Jamnagar, Gujarat. Bicondylar width was considered as maximum distance between medial and lateral femoral condyle, measured with the Vernier caliper. Results: Mean Values obtained were, 76.84 and 72.34 for right male and female, and 76.64 and 72.84 for left male and female respectively. Higher value in male was statistically highly significant (P< 0.001) on both sides. Demarking point (D.P.) analysis of the data showed that right femora with bicondylar width more than 80.20 were definitely male and less than 65.50 were definitely female; while for left bones, femora with bicondylar width more than 80.76 were definitely male and less than 66.53 were definitely female. Conclusions: Bicondylar width identified 22.40% of right male femora and 14.49% of left male femora; it was not useful for female bone.