Sex estimation from humeral and femoral head diameters using CT-scans of living Finns

Abstract

This study used 155 computed tomography (CT) scans of Finns (81 males, 74 females) for creating population-specific sectioning points from femoral and humeral head diameters for the purposes of sex estimation. The study included four measurements: vertical and transverse diameter of the femoral head and vertical and transverse diameter of humeral head. All the measured dimensions were sexually dimorphic and the following sectioning points were calculated: Femur: vertical diameter 46.2 mm, transverse diameter 46.3 mm; Humerus: vertical diameter 46.8 mm, transverse diameter 43.6 mm. These sectioning points correctly classified sexes with overall classification rates over 92%. The female diameters were classified more often correctly than males. Discriminant function analysis was also used but it did not improve the classification rates. This study gives new standards for humeral and femoral head dimensions for Finnish population and can be used for sex estimation in forensic cases if only major long bones, femur or humerus with a proximal end, are present or the skeletal remains are commingled.