Abstract
Introduction: Forensic anthropology involves the identification of human remains for medico-legal purposes. Estimation of sex is an essential element of medico-legal investigations when identification of unknown dismembered remains is involved.
Aim and Objectives: The present study was conducted with an aim to estimate sex from 2D:4D ratio of adult individuals belonging to an indigenous population of Jammu and Kashmir region of Northern India.
Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted on a sample of 200 medical students (100 males and 100 females) within the age group of 18-25 years, studying in Government Medical College, Jammu. Only those students were taken who belong to J&K state and have no obvious deformity that can affect the measurements.
Results: Males have significantly longer index and ring finger length than females. Sex differences in the length of ring finger are larger than index finger. Again males show significantly lower mean 2D:4D digit ratio (0.975) as compared to females (0.984). The study suggests that ratio below and equal to 0.975 is suggestive of male sex for both hands, while a ratio of more than 0.975 is suggestive female sex for both the hands.
Conclusion: This study may prove useful to determine the sex of an isolated hand when it is subjected for medico legal examination.
Keywords: Anthropometry, Dimorphism, Digit Ratio, Population.
References
1. Krogman WM, Iscan MY. Determination of sex and parturition. In: The human skeleton in forensic medicine. 2nd ed. USA: Charles C Thomas Publishers; 1986. p. 189-259.
2. Kanchan T, Kumar GP, Menezes RG. Index and ring finger ratio: a new sex determinant in the South-Indian popula-tion. Forensic Sci Int 2008;181(1), 53-e1.
3. Dey S, Kapoor AK. Hand length and Hand Breadth: A Study of Correlation Statistics among Human Population. Int J Sci Res 2015;4(4):148–50.
4. Dey S, Kapoor AK. Hand outlines: a new dimension in forensic examination. Int J Adv Res 2015;3(1):193–9.
5. Kanchan T, Krishan T. Anthropometry of hand in sex determination of dismembered remains-A review of literature. J Forensic Leg Med. 2011;18:14-17.
6. McIntyre MH, Cohn BA, Ellison PT. Sex dimorphism in digital formulae of children. Am J PhysAnthropol. 2006;129: 143–50.
7. Kyriakidis I, Papaioannidou P. Epidem-iologic study of the sexually dimorphic second to fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) and other finger ratios in Greek population. Coll Antropol. 2008;32:1093–98.
8. Lippa RA. Are 2D:4D finger-length ratios related to sexual orientation? Yes for men, no for women. J Pers Soc Psychol 2003;85:179–88.
9. 9. Manning JT, Scutt D, Wilson J, Lewis-Jones DI. The ratio of 2nd to 4th digit length: a predictor of sperm numbers and concentrations of testosterone, luteinizing hormone and oestrogen. Hum Reprod 1998; 13:3000e4
10. Wood-Jones F. The principles of anatomy as seen in the hand. London: J. & A. Churchill; 1920. p. 354.
11. Habib SR, Kamal NN. Stature estimation from hand and phalanges lengths of Egyptians. J Forensic Leg Med 2010;17: 156–60.
12. Williams TJ, Pepitone ME, Christensen SE, Cooke BM, Huberman AD, Breedlove NJ, et al. Finger-length ratios and sexual orientation. Nature 2000;404:455–6.
13. Smedley KD, McKain KJ, McKain DN. 2D:4D digit ratio predicts depression severity for females but not for males. Personality Individ Differ 2014;70:136–9.
14. Voracek M. Why digit ratio (2D:4D) is appropriate for sex determination in medicolegal investigations. Forensic Sci Int 2009;185:e29–30.
Corresponding Author
Dr Mudasir Ahmad Khan
Demonstrator in the Department of Anatomy
Government Medical College-Srinagar, J&K, India
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Phone No 7298258597 / 9419118299
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i7.51
