Sex estimation using the first cervical vertebra

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Bioarchaeology
• Osteology

Background:

• The first cervical vertebra, or atlas, possesses distinct anatomical features.
• Sexual dimorphism in skeletal morphology is a key area of study in human variation.
• Accurate sex estimation from skeletal remains is crucial for identification in forensic and archaeological contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential of the first cervical vertebra (atlas) for sex determination.
• To develop and validate morphometric methods for sex estimation using the atlas.
• To assess the accuracy of these methods on diverse skeletal collections.

Main Methods:

• Eight measurements were systematically taken from the articular regions of 100 atlas vertebrae from the Terry collection.
• Regression and discriminant function analyses were employed to create predictive equations for sex.
• Validation was performed using independent control samples from the Hamann-Todd collection and archaeological specimens.

Main Results:

• Regression and discriminant function equations achieved prediction accuracies ranging from 77-85% and 75-85%, respectively.
• Control tests demonstrated successful sexing of independent samples with accuracies between 60-85%.
• The study confirms significant sexual dimorphism in the atlas morphology.

Conclusions:

• The first cervical vertebra (atlas) is a reliable indicator for sex estimation in human skeletal remains.
• The developed morphometric equations provide a valuable tool for sex determination, applicable to complete or fragmentary specimens.
• This research contributes to the osteological toolkit for forensic and bioarchaeological analyses.