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

• NCJ Number: 234420
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 56 Issue: 2 Dated: March 2011 Pages: 297-301
• Author(s): Jorge Alfredo Gomez-Valdes, M.A.; Guillermo Torres Ramirez, B.A.; Socorro Baez Molgado, M.A.; Patricia Herrera Sain-Leu, M.D.; Jose Luis Castrejon Caballero, Ph.D.; Gabriela Sanchez-Mejorada, M.D., Ph.D.
• Date Published: March 2011
• Length: 5 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The present study proposes a discriminant function method for the sex assessment of skeletal remains from a contemporary Mexican population.

Abstract

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. 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 percent and 87 percent, respectively. These analyses follow a population-specific approach; nevertheless, the authors consider that their results are applicable to any other Hispanic samples for purposes of forensic human identification. (Published Abstract)