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Craniometric study for sex determination in a Thai population
Pasuk Mahakkanukrauh1, Apichat Sinthubua1, Sukon Prasitwattanaseree2
1Excellence in Osteology Research and Training Center (ORTC), Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.; Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.; Forensic Osteology Research, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
This study analyzed 200 Thai skulls to determine sex using cranial measurements. A discriminant function achieved 90.6% accuracy, offering a reliable method for forensic identification in this population.
Area of Science:
- Forensic anthropology
- Biological anthropology
- Craniometry
Background:
- Sex determination from skeletal remains is crucial in forensic science.
- Craniometric studies reveal population-specific differences in sex discriminant equations.
- Morphological methods are often considered more subjective than metric analyses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate sexual dimorphism in Thai skulls.
- To develop a discriminant function for sex determination in Thai individuals.
- To assess the accuracy of the derived discriminant function.
Main Methods:
- Examination of 25 standard cranial measurements from 200 Thai skulls.
- Statistical analysis to identify significant differences between male and female crania.
- Application of stepwise discriminant analysis to derive a sex determination equation.
Main Results:
- Male crania were significantly larger than female crania in most measurements (P<0.05).
- A high male/female ratio in the sexual dimorphism index indicated significant sexual dimorphism.
- The derived discriminant function, using six measurements, achieved 90.6% accuracy.
Conclusions:
- Significant sexual dimorphism exists in Thai skulls.
- A validated discriminant function provides a reliable tool for sex determination in Thai populations.
- This metric approach offers an objective method for forensic biological identification.
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