Title: Sex Determination From The Upper End And Length Of The Femur: A Morphometric Study
Authors:Dr Savita Takale, Dr Gopal Bagal
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v4i2.29
Identification of sex from skeleton is an important demographic assessment in medicolegal investigation. Determination of sex is relatively easy if the entire skeleton is available for examination. Even when skull and pelvis, the most reliable bones for sex determination are available not more than 98% of accuracy can be achieved in identifying the sex. Often in medicolegal cases it is expected to determine sex from isolated long bones or their fragments from the crime site in order to establish a possible identity. Assessment of sex from femoral dimensions has been tried before in several populations. Studies conducted so far have demonstrated that populations differ from one another in size and proportion. The anatomical knowledge of different dimensions of femur specially head and neck of the femur is very essential in anthropological and medicolegal practice for sex determination and as well as to radiologists, rheumatologists and orthopedic surgeons for diagnosis and planning of fragment. This is an observational descriptive study carried out in the Department of Anatomy. The present study was performed on one hundred (50-Male & 50-Female) left sided fully ossified human femur bones collected from the Department of Anatomy and from the medical students. Morphometric study was carried on all samples by direct physical method. There was statistically significant difference found in the diameter of the head and neck and length of the femur bones between male and female bones. KEY WORDS: Human femur, Head and Neck diameter, Length of femur, Sexual variations.
Abstract
