Accurate sex estimation of skeletal remains is of critical importance in medico-legal investigations. Despite a significant number of metric sex estimation techniques being developed over recent years, minimal research has been conducted on the suitability of the scapulae. The aim of this study was therefore to establish population-specific discriminant functions from six scapular measurements from the left and right scapulae of 180 contemporary individuals (94 males and 86 females) from the modern and documented CAL Milano Cemetery Skeletal Collection. The measurements comprise the maximum morphological length and breadth of the scapula, the maximum length and breadth of the glenoid cavity and the maximum width of the acromion process and coracoid process. All measurements were sexually dimorphic, as a significant mean difference (p < 0.001) in size was found. All direct and stepwise functions, apart from one outperformed (similar to 83- 96%) univariate ones (similar to 65 - 86%). The maximum width of the coracoid process measurement performed the worst, and therefore should be used with caution. Bilateral asymmetry was observed in three male and three female measurements. High accuracy rates combined with high levels of inter- and intra-observer agreements (R > 0.995) indicate that this technique is suitable for estimating the sex of skeletal remains.

Sex estimation using scapular measurements: discriminant function analysis in a modern Italian population / V. Steffi, D. Catriona, L. Biehler Gomez. - In: THE AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES. - ISSN 0045-0618. - (2021 Jan 25). [Epub ahead of print]

Sex estimation using scapular measurements: discriminant function analysis in a modern Italian population

L. Biehler Gomez
Ultimo
Supervision
2021

Abstract

Accurate sex estimation of skeletal remains is of critical importance in medico-legal investigations. Despite a significant number of metric sex estimation techniques being developed over recent years, minimal research has been conducted on the suitability of the scapulae. The aim of this study was therefore to establish population-specific discriminant functions from six scapular measurements from the left and right scapulae of 180 contemporary individuals (94 males and 86 females) from the modern and documented CAL Milano Cemetery Skeletal Collection. The measurements comprise the maximum morphological length and breadth of the scapula, the maximum length and breadth of the glenoid cavity and the maximum width of the acromion process and coracoid process. All measurements were sexually dimorphic, as a significant mean difference (p < 0.001) in size was found. All direct and stepwise functions, apart from one outperformed (similar to 83- 96%) univariate ones (similar to 65 - 86%). The maximum width of the coracoid process measurement performed the worst, and therefore should be used with caution. Bilateral asymmetry was observed in three male and three female measurements. High accuracy rates combined with high levels of inter- and intra-observer agreements (R > 0.995) indicate that this technique is suitable for estimating the sex of skeletal remains.
forensic anthropology; scapula; sexual dimorphism; bilateral asymmetry; discriminant analysis;
Settore BIO/08 - Antropologia
25-gen-2021
Article (author)
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Vassalo et al.pdf

accesso riservato

Tipologia: Publisher's version/PDF
Dimensione 1.63 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.63 MB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/809606
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 5
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 4
social impact