Sexing of human hip bones of Indian origin by discriminant function analysis

• Published in: Journal of forensic and legal medicine Vol. 14; no. 7; pp. 429 - 435
• Main Authors: Dixit, S.G., MD, Kakar, S., MS, Agarwal, S., MS, Choudhry, R., MS
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2007
• Subjects: Adult; Discriminant Analysis; Discriminant function analysis; Female; Forensic Anthropology - methods; Hip bone; Humans; India; Male; Pathology; Pelvic Bones - anatomy & histology; Physical anthropology; Sex Determination by Skeleton - methods; Sex estimation; India; Discriminant function analysis; Sex estimation; Physical anthropology; Hip bone
• ISSN: 1752-928X; 1878-7487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2007.03.009

Abstract The present study was carried out in terms of discriminant analysis and was conducted on 100 human hip bones (of unknown sex) of Indian origin. Based on morphological features, each of the hip bone was rated on a scale of 1–3 for sexing. Twelve measurements and five indices were recorded. The results of discriminant function analysis showed that the acetabular height (vertical diameter) and indices 1 (total pelvic height/acetabular height), 2 (midpubic width/acetabular height) and 3 (pubic length/acetabular height) were very good measures for discriminating sexes. Pelvic brim depth, minimum width of ischiopubic ramus and indices 4 (pelvic brim chord × pelvic brim depth) and 5 (pubic length × 100/ischial length) were also good discriminators of sex. The remaining parameters were not significant as they showed a lot of overlap between male and female categories. The results indicated that one exclusive criterion for sexing was index 3 (pubic length/acetabular height). In comparison with the morphological criteria, the abovementioned index caused 25% and 10.25% increase in the hip bones of female and male category, respectively.