Discriminant Function Analysis for Sex Assessment in Pelvic Girdle Bones: Sample from the Contemporary Mexican Population

• Published in: Journal of forensic sciences Vol. 56; no. 2; pp. 297 - 301
• Main Authors: Gómez-Valdés, Jorge Alfredo, Ramírez, Guillermo Torres, Molgado, Socorro Báez, Sain-Leu, Patricia Herrera, Caballero, José Luis Castrejón, Sánchez-Mejorada, Gabriela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2011; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Accuracy; Adult; Aged; Bone; Bones; coxal; Discriminant Analysis; discriminant function analysis; Female; Forensic Anthropology - methods; Forensic osteology; forensic science; Gender; Hispanic people; Humans; Identification; Male; Mathematical programming; Mexican population; Mexico; Middle Aged; Pelvic Bones - anatomy & histology; Population; sacrum; sex assessment; Sex Determination by Skeleton - methods; Mexico
• ISSN: 0022-1198; 1556-4029
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2010.01663.x

:  Sex assessment of skeletal remains plays an important role in forensic anthropology. The pelvic bones are the most studied part of the postcranial skeleton for the assessment of sex. It is evident that a population‐specific approach improves rates of accuracy within the group. The present study proposes a discriminant function method for the sex assessment of skeletal remains from a contemporary Mexican population. A total of 146 adult human pelvic bones (61 females and 85 males) from the skeletal series pertaining to the National Autonomous University of Mexico were evaluated. Twenty‐four direct metrical parameters of coxal and sacral bones were measured and subsequently, sides and sex differences were evaluated, applying a stepwise discriminant function analysis. Coxal and sacra functions achieved accuracies of 99% and 87%, respectively. These analyses follow a population‐specific approach; nevertheless, we consider that our results are applicable to any other Hispanic samples for purposes of forensic human identification.