Estimating the biological sex of unknown skeletal pelvic girdles using the sex determinant method.
Estimating the biological sex of unknown skeletal pelvic girdles using the sex determinant method.
Introduction
The pelvic girdle is a complex structural component consists of several bones connecting the lower limbs to the axial skeleton (Lindsay M. Biga et al, 2019). It is an ideal anatomical structure for sex estimations of adult specimens due to its unique characteristics and obvious functional relationship between the pelvic shape and reproduction in the females (Robert Hall et al, 20). Biological sex has a significant influence on the pelvis, which is the primary skeletal region studied by anthropologists due to its significant sexual dimorphism, making it a reliable tool for estimating the biological sex of unidentified skeletal remains (Forensics, 2024). In the pelvic determinant method,the unique morphological characteristics of male and female pelvises is usedto make accurate estimations throughthe anatomy of the pelvic girdle to distinguish between male and female skeletal remains based on their sexual dimorphism.
Hypothesis:
The aim of this investigation is to show that the application of the pelvic determinant method will accurately determine the biological sex of five unknown skeletons (A, B, C, D, & E).
Materials
Unknown skeletons A, B, C, D, E
Methodology
Utilising the pelvic determinant method, the pelvic girdle of five unknown Skeletons (A, B, C, D, E), were examined. Specific morphological characteristics, including the pubic arch, sacrum, coccyx, pelvic inlet, and acetabula were carefully inspected. These stature characteristics were compared to established male and female pelvic traits to estimate sex. Results were methodically tabulated for comprehensive analysis. This approach used the significant sexual dimorphism in the human pelvic girdle to provide an objective method of sex estimation.
Results
The data shows that among the five skeletal pelvic girdles, Skeletons A and E displayed female morphological characteristics: a rounded pubic arch, a wide sacrum with accentuated curvature, a more moveable and inferiorly positioned coccyx, a wide oval-shaped pelvic inlet, and larger acetabula spaced farther apart. Conversely, Skeletons B, C, and D exhibited male traits, an acute pubic arch, a narrow sacrum with ventral curvature, a less moveable and anteriorly positioned coccyx, a narrow heart-shaped pelvic inlet, and smaller acetabula positioned closed together. This trend reflects the significant sexual dimorphism in the pelvic girdles.
Skeleton
A B -4026535-245907Table 1: Represents the recorded results from observing skeletons by using pelvic determination method.
0Table 1: Represents the recorded results from observing skeletons by using pelvic determination method.
C D E
Pubic Arch (rounded/ acute) 42036139116Rounded
00Rounded
101423138532Acute
00Acute
102997103048Acute
00Acute
14848969241Acute
00Acute
4828565964Rounded
00Rounded
Sarcum (wider/narrow, accentuated curvature/ventral) 4203752349Wider, accentuated curvature
00Wider, accentuated curvature
-63503175Narrow, ventral
00Narrow, ventral
4447552857Narrow, ventral
00Narrow, ventral
1398903175Narrow, ventral
00Narrow, ventral
4517226823Wider, accentuated curvature
00Wider, accentuated curvature
Coccyx (more/less moveable, inferiorly/anteriorly) -13835-145More moveable, inferiorly
00More moveable, inferiorly
2293653873Anteriorly less moveable
00Anteriorly less moveable
470151270Anteriorly less moveable
00Anteriorly less moveable
10815353873Anteriorly less moveable
00Anteriorly less moveable
2105912065More moveable inferiorly
00More moveable inferiorly
Pelvic inlet (brim) (Wider/narrow; oval/heart-shaped) 41910112573Wide oval
00Wide oval
6540532385Narrow heart-shaped
00Narrow heart-shaped
4427233427Narrow heart-shaped
00Narrow heart-shaped
10459735255Narrow heart-shaped
00Narrow heart-shaped
4503435560Wide oval
00Wide oval
Acetabula (smaller/larger; farther apart/closer) 4226634442Large, farther apart
00Large, farther apart
6548235128Smaller,
Closer
00Smaller,
Closer
40640-5080Smaller, closer
00Smaller, closer
141173-204Smaller, closer
00Smaller, closer
37820-1016Large, farther apart
00Large, farther apart
Biological Sex (Male/Female) 2410545161F
00F
-2438-1727M
00M
42240-2007M
00M
104597-3328M
00M
378201447F
00F
Discussion
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Conclusion
Reference list
Biga, L. M., Bronson, S., Dawson, S., Harwell, A., Hopkins, R., Kaufmann, J., OpenStax. (2019). 8.3 the pelvic girdle and pelvis. Retrieved from https://open.oregonstate.education/aandp/chapter/8-3-the-pelvic-girdle-and-pelvis/
Fidoe, S. (2022). The pelvic girdle. Retrieved from https://teachmeanatomy.info/pelvis/bones/pelvic-girdle/
Witzel, A. (2017). Learning modules. Retrieved from https://eforensics.info/learning_module/sex-determination/