Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Sutures of the Skull

Sutures of the Skull

The human skull is composed of several bones that come together to protect the brain and support the structures of the face. The junctions where these bones meet are called sutures.
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...

The Ratio of X Chromosome to Autosomes

The Ratio of X Chromosome to Autosomes

In most organisms, sex is determined by the ratio of X and Y chromosomes. However, in some organisms, such as Drosophila and C.elegans, sex is determined by the ratio of the number of X chromosomes to the number of sets of autosomes. The Y chromosome in Drosophila is active but does not determine sex. It contains genes responsible for the production of sperms in adult flies.
Normal male Drosophila has a ratio of one X chromosome to two sets of autosomes. In contrast, normal female Drosophila...

Development of the Sexual Organs in the Embryo and Fetus

Development of the Sexual Organs in the Embryo and Fetus

Development of the reproductive organs in an embryo starts from a bipotential state. This means the early embryo can develop either male or female reproductive organs. The formation of these organs begins with the growth of gonadal ridges that arise from the intermediate mesoderm during the fifth week of development.
Near the gonadal ridges, two duct systems are present: the mesonephric ducts (Wolffian ducts) and paramesonephric ducts (Müllerian ducts). These ducts form the basis for the male...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Cross-sectional blood vessel area differences in various causes of death in unenhanced forensic post-mortem computed tomography.

International journal of legal medicine·2026

Same author

In Situ pH Determination Using <sup>1</sup>H-MRS Acetate Chemical Shift for Noninvasive Postmortem Examinations.

NMR in biomedicine·2026

Same author

Radiation dose reduction through short scan protocols and arms-out positioning in clavicular CT for forensic age estimation.

International journal of legal medicine·2026

Same author

Striking energy achieved by knee strikes, elbow blows, head butts and fist punches.

Forensic science international·2026

Same author

Complex Mechanical Loading and Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.

JOR spine·2026

Same author

Comparative image quality evaluation of unenhanced postmortem Photon-Counting CT and Energy-Integrating CT.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts

Published on: January 29, 2018

Sex determination from os sacrum by postmortem CT.

Wolf-Dieter Zech¹, Gary Hatch, Lea Siegenthaler

¹Centre of Forensic Imaging and Virtopsy, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland. wolf-dieter.zech@irm.unibe.ch

Forensic Science International

|April 24, 2012

Summary

Forensic sex determination using postmortem CT scans of the os sacrum shows moderate accuracy (76.8-78.9%). This method is best used alongside other forensic techniques for reliable results.

More Related Videos

Development of a Uterosacral Ligament Suspension Rat Model

Development of a Uterosacral Ligament Suspension Rat Model

Published on: August 17, 2022

Semiautomated Longitudinal Microcomputed Tomography-based Quantitative Structural Analysis of a Nude Rat Osteoporosis-related Vertebral Fracture Model

Semiautomated Longitudinal Microcomputed Tomography-based Quantitative Structural Analysis of a Nude Rat Osteoporosis-related Vertebral Fracture Model

Published on: September 28, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 23, 2026

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts

Published on: January 29, 2018

Development of a Uterosacral Ligament Suspension Rat Model

Development of a Uterosacral Ligament Suspension Rat Model

Published on: August 17, 2022

Semiautomated Longitudinal Microcomputed Tomography-based Quantitative Structural Analysis of a Nude Rat Osteoporosis-related Vertebral Fracture Model

Semiautomated Longitudinal Microcomputed Tomography-based Quantitative Structural Analysis of a Nude Rat Osteoporosis-related Vertebral Fracture Model

Published on: September 28, 2017

Area of Science:

Forensic Anthropology
Radiology
Anatomy

Background:

Sex determination is crucial in forensic investigations.
Sexually dimorphic bones, like the os sacrum, are often used.
Postmortem CT scans offer a rapid way to visualize skeletal structures.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop an objective method for sex determination using postmortem CT scans.
To evaluate the accuracy of measuring the os sacrum for sex determination.

Main Methods:

Metric data were collected from postmortem CT images of the os sacrum from 95 individuals.
Discriminant function analysis was applied to the metric data.
Two independent observers analyzed the CT images.

Main Results:

The best accuracy for sex determination using os sacrum measurements was 76.8% and 78.9% between two observers.
This indicates moderate accuracy in sex determination via this method.

Conclusions:

Measuring the os sacrum in postmortem CT scans provides moderate accuracy for sex determination.
This technique should be used in conjunction with other forensic methods for improved reliability.