Can a Single Anthropometric Feature of the Lumbar Vertebra Result in a Correct Identification of Sex?

Abstract

This blind anthropometric study demonstrates that sexual dimorphism in the fourth (L4) and fifth (L5) human lumbar vertebra exists and that it can be used for the estimation of sex. The Maximum Lumbar Vertebral Body Diameter (MBD) from a total of 1686 vertebra from five different skeletal collections are included in the total sample studied. The vertebral standards were developed first from the MBD of 1175 vertebra (study sample) of which 574 vertebral measurements were collected from South African and 601 from North American Osteological Collections. The remaining 511 lumbar vertebra (test sample) were collected from the Terry (306) and Maxwell (205) Collections. The sex was estimated as vertebral MBD from the test sample were measured and the collected measurements compared against the standards derived from the study sample. The estimates of sex from the L4 MBD resulted in 80% and from the L5 in 86% accuracy, suggesting that L5 got slightly higher sexing potential. The fact that ethnic background, age or stature played no role in the estimates and also that durability of the lower lumbar spine and its sexually dimorphic anthropometric attributes resulted in notably high sex estimation accuracy levels demands further attention.