Determination of Sex by Morphometry of Acetabulum and Acetabulopubic Index in South Indian Population

Abstract

The capability of determination of gender from unknown human skeletal remains is indispensable andthe techniques to find out this from different bones of human skeletal remains have been researchedtremendously. Several investigators have asserted the necessity for population specific statistical data formethods that are dependent on specific measurements as there exist ample variations in body size amongdiverse ethnic populations. Most reliable bone exhibiting sexual dimorphism in human body is the pelvis andwe have chosen it for derivation of population and sex specific data with respect to diameter of acetabulumand acetabulopubic index. 72 adult, dry innominate hip bones without any morphological deformities anddefects (38 of male and 34 of female sex) belonging to South Indian population were carefully studied withrespect to diameter of Right acetabulum and acetabulopubic index derived from the maximum distancebetween pubis symphysis and the anterior rim of acetabulum i.e. cotylopubic length or acetabulum-pubissymphysis length. All measurements were accurately taken with the aid of digital Vernier caliper andresults were analyzed by means of SPSS software version 26 and the results including the demarking point,standard deviation, sectioning point etc. were found to be statistically significant and therefore acetabulumdiameter and acetabulopubic index can be authentically applied for sex determination from dry adult hipbones belonging to the South Indian population. From the analysis of demarking point, AP index of >94.13identified 73.84% of male sex and <87.15 identified 84.97% of females and therefore AP index can definitelybe considered as the positive and decisive indicator for sex determination from adult hip bones.