Identification of the sex of the individual from “Demarking Points” of hip bone

Abstract

Introduction: Identification of sex from the available bones has got tremendous value in the medicolegal cases. Anatomists are often asked for expert opinion regarding sex and age of the individual from the skeletal remains found under suspicious conditions. In this respect, metrical studies of the bones are more useful than mere physical examination. The growth factor and the nutrition of the man is widely variable in this world. Based on statistics, Demarking point (DP) are useful to identify the sex of the human clavicles with accuracy. Skeletal remains provide probably the most dependable information for identifying an unknown individual because of their relative durability with which they can be preserved and studied. Aims and Objectives: The identification of an individual from his skeletal remains is of great medicolegal importance The objective of the study was to evaluate the Demarking point (DP) from the hip bone. With this view, the present study has made an attempt to determine the sex of the hip bone from the Demarking point (DP). Material and Method: One hundred and sixty adult hip bones (90 males and 70 females) of known sex were picked up at random from the skeletal collections of the department of Anatomy from various medical colleges in Mumbai. The following measurements were made from dry hip bones which did not show any fracture, pathology or wear and tear. Weight, length and width of the hip bone, length of pubis and length of ischium. Ischiopubic index and coxal index were calculated of each hip bone from the study sample. The instruments used are osteometric board, sliding caliper and ordinary weighing balance sensitive to 0.5 gm. Observation: In this study it was found that ischiopubic index is the best criteria for discriminating sexual dimorphism in hip bones. Also the length of ischium is more useful for identifying male bones and length of pubis for female bones. Combination of these two i. e. the ischiopubic index was found to be the best discriminant parameters for both sexes. Result and Discussion: Earlier workers have studied the actual range and means of certain parameters of bones for assigning sex. In present study seven parameters were studied for determining the sex from the hip bone. The Demarking points (DP) of various parameters if crossed by any hip bone, sex of that hip bone can be identified with certainty. However, it is not necessary for any bone to cross Demarking points (DP) of all parameters for identification of sex. Any single Demarking point (DP) for any of the parameters if crossed, would detect the sex with 100% accuracy. Conclusions: The length of ischium was found to be more in male bones, length of pubis was found more in female bones and ischiopubic index was found to be the best criteria for determining sexual dimorphism in hip bones. Keywords: Demarking point (DP), Identification point(IP), Coxal index, Ischiopubic index, Dimorphism