NCJ Number
191471
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 46 Issue: 4 Dated: July 2001 Pages: 924-927
Editor(s)
Michael A. Peat Ph.D.
Date Published
July 2001
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This study made an attempt to assess sex from the ulna by devising new measurements for fragmentary bones.
Abstract
The identification of sex from skeleton parts plays an important role in medicolegal investigations. This study attempted to assess sexual dimorphim in an upper limb bone, the ulna. It attempted to obtain discriminant functions to be applied to fragmentary forensic material based on the different variables offering high reliability in sex discrimination. This study was conducted at the Bhopal Medicolegal Institute in India. Data was comprised of 160 completely dry adult ulnae (100 males and 60 females). The olecranon-coronoid angle was measured, and affixed the posterior border and styloid process of the ulna to the side wall of the ulna board. This permitted the proximal end to be elevated to its free position. The results showed high statistical significance with males exhibiting an 8.26 degree greater angle than females. When the accuracy of a single variable was considered, the olecranon-coronoid angle could classify the maximum number of bones with a predicted accuracy of 85 percent. In summary, the conclusions had to be limited to the population sampled, and the results showed that the measurements on the ulna might prove equally effective in sexing other populations as well. Tables and references