Measurements of ulna--a new method for determination of sex

Identification of sex from skeleton parts is of paramount importance to medicolegal investigations. The present study makes an attempt to assess sex from the ulna by devising new measurements for fragmentary bones. Dry and adult ulnae (100 male and 60 female) of Madhya Pradesh, India were subjected to three measurements (Olecranon--coronoid angle, length, and width of inferior medial trochlear notch) that were devised specifically for this study. The data were analyzed using discriminant function analysis. Direct analysis using single or multiple variables revealed the Olecranon-Coronoid angle as the best single parameter, yielding 85% accuracy. Measurements of the inferior medial trochlear notch have an additional advantage of being used in fragmentary bone where only the upper end is available. The calibrated discriminant functions correctly classified 90.6% of all males and females in an independent test sample.