Determination of sex from fragment of hip bone in Indian Bengali.

ABSTRACT

The present study was designed to derive a model for determination of sex from fragment of adult hip bone (distal ischio-pubic portion) in a population specific sample using Discriminant function analysis. The following discriminant function was obtained DF = .76*SYL +1.60*SYW + 4.36. *DOF – 24.88 Overall 90.0 % of the cases could be correctly classified in to the two sexes from the three predictors [maximum vertical length of symphyseal surface (SYL), maximum width of symphyseal surface of pubis (SYW) and maximum diameter of the obturator foramen (DOF).] in the model. Cross-validated results showed correct classification in 86.7% cases. The results of this preliminary study show that these three variables contribute to discrimination between the two sexes in the study population. This investigation also reiterates that discriminant functions are population specific. Sexing of the adult human hipbone is thus possible with reasonable accuracy using the discriminant function on a sample obtained from the Indian Bengali population. This metric analysis can be used for fragmentary remains of hipbones of the population under study.