Skeletal sex determination by scapular measurements

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Osteology
• Biometrics

Background:

• Accurate sex determination is crucial in forensic anthropology.
• Scapular morphology offers potential for skeletal sex estimation.
• Previous research has explored various skeletal elements for sex determination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of seven scapular parameters for sex determination in a contemporary Italian skeletal sample.
• To establish discriminant functions for sex estimation using scapular measurements.
• To assess the utility of these measurements in forensic investigations involving fragmented remains.

Main Methods:

• Measurements of seven scapular parameters were taken from a known Italian (Apulian) skeletal population.
• Univariate and multivariate discriminant analyses were employed.
• Classification accuracy and misclassification rates were calculated for each parameter and combination.

Main Results:

• Maximum scapular breadth showed the best univariate discriminant accuracy (8.75% misclassification).
• A multivariate model using three parameters (max. distance acromion-coracoid, max. length of coracoid, glenoid cavity length) achieved 95% correct sex determination.
• Two glenoid cavity measurements provided sex determination with a 10% misclassification rate.

Conclusions:

• Scapular measurements, particularly maximum breadth and glenoid cavity dimensions, are valuable tools for skeletal sex determination.
• These morphometric analyses offer a reliable method for sex estimation in forensic contexts, especially with incomplete skeletal remains.
• The findings contribute to the forensic anthropologist's toolkit for identifying individuals from fragmented skeletal evidence.