Discriminant functions for sex estimation using the rib necks in a Spanish population

One of the first steps in the identification of human remains is sex estimation. Discriminant functions are very useful for this purpose, as they are based on the fundamental premise of the sexual dimorphism in osseous remains. However, the absence of studies of this kind in the thoracic cage is vis...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of legal medicine 2021-05, Vol.135 (3), p.1055-1065
Main Authors: Partido Navadijo, Manuel, Fombuena Zapata, Ignacio, Borja Miranda, Erik Adrián, Alemán Aguilera, Inmaculada
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anthropology
Discriminant analysis
Forensic anthropology
Forensic Medicine
Human remains
Medical Law
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Original Article
Population genetics
Rib cage
Sex
Sexual dimorphism
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Summary:One of the first steps in the identification of human remains is sex estimation. Discriminant functions are very useful for this purpose, as they are based on the fundamental premise of the sexual dimorphism in osseous remains. However, the absence of studies of this kind in the thoracic cage is visible, and adequate cause to justify this work. To this purpose, we analysed and measured a set of ribs, R1 to R4, belonging to skeletons of contemporary chronology (1970–2010), in order to obtain discriminant functions enabling sex estimation through equations applied to the rib neck. The sample comes from the Cemetery of San José, which is located at the Laboratory of Anthropology at the University of Granada. All data from this sample was known: ancestry, sex, age-at-death and cause of death. Results showed a percentage of success of approximately 80–88% in ribs R2 to R4, and approximately 85–90% in R1, reaching up to 93.2%. Results from intra-/inter-observer error tests show excellent reproducibility of the method. The data confirms that it is possible to estimate sex from the rib neck.
ISSN:0937-9827
1437-1596
DOI:10.1007/s00414-021-02537-8