Anat Cell Biol.  2014 Sep;47(3):196-201. 10.5115/acb.2014.47.3.196.

Sex determination using upper limb bones in Korean populations

• Lee JH
• Kim YS
• Lee UY
• Park DK
• Jeong YG
• Lee NS
• Han SY
• Kim KY
• Han SH

• KMID: 1882595
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.2014.47.3.196

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to establish metric standards for the determination of sex from the upper limb bones of Korean. We took a set of eleven measurements on each of 175 right sides of adult skeletons chosen at Korean sample. Classification accuracy dropped only one or two individuals when only vertical head diameter of humerus is used. Variables in relation with maximal length were less accurate than head diameter of humerus. Two variables were selected by the stepwise procedure: maximal length of humerus, vertical head diameter of humerus. The combined accuracy was 87%. This study of modern Korean skeletons underscores the need for population-specific techniques, not only for medicolegal investigations, but also for the study of population affinities and factors affecting bone configurations.

Keyword

Sex determination; Upper limb bone; Partial measurements; Korean

MeSH Terms

Adult
Classification
Head
Humans
Humerus
Skeleton
Upper Extremity*

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The measurement method using osteometric table. LAT, lateral; SUP, superior.

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  Fig. 2 Variables used for sex determination. CB, condylar breadth of humerus; CMS, circumference at middle of shaft of clavicle; EB, epicondylar breadth of humerus; LCSU, least cricumference of ulna shaft; MDH, maximum diameter of humeral head; MLC, maximum length of clavicle includes distance between acromial end and sterna end; MLH, maximum length of humerus includes distance between trochlea and the proximal extremity of humeral head; MLR, maximum length of radius includes distance between styloid process and the proximal extremity of radial head; MLU, maximum length of ulna includes distance between styloid process and the proximal extremity of olecranon; TDH, transverse diameter of humeral head; VDH, vertical diameter of humeral head.

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