A Study Of Sacral Index: A Basis For Determination Of Sex Of Sacrum

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Sacrum is an important bone for identification of sex in human skeletal system, because the bonesof the body are the lasts to perish after death, next to the enamel of teeth. For sex determination of human skeletalremains, sacrum always captured the attention of forensic science experts and anthropologists. Sex determinationof a skeleton is a problem of concern to Paleoanthropologists, Paledemographers and Anatomists.Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted on 100 fully ossified adult human sacra of known sex(50 male and 50 female), obtained from department of Anatomy, Mysore medical college and research institute,Mysore. Damaged, mutilated, deformed and anomalous sacra were excluded from the study. Sacral index wasmeasured by measuring the length and breadth of individual sacrum with the help of sliding vernier callipers.Observations and Results: The mean maximum length of the sacrum was greater in males (102.68 mm) than infemales (91.11mm), and this difference was found statistically significant. But the difference was not significantfor mean maximum sacral breadth in male (103.80 mm) and in female (105.57 mm). Mean sacral index infemales was greater (116.18%) as compared to that in males (101.26%) and this difference was found statisticallysignificant.Conclusion: The present study showed a significant difference among the average male & female sacral indexesand considers sacral index as a valuable parameter in identification of sex. The male & female sacra areclassified under (Dolichohieric & Hyplatyhieric) and Platyhieric group respectively. Hence, it can be concludedthat sacral index is a reliable criterion for differention between sexes of sacrum that is useful for Anatomists,Anthropologists & Forensic experts.