ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 8

Sex Estimation from the Metatarsals
Robling, AG
University of Missouri, MO

Ubelaker, DH
Curator, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, D.C.

(Received 7 August 1996; accepted 14 February 1997)

Abstract

Discriminant-function analysis of osteometric data from the metatarsals of 200 individuals in the Terry Collection provides a reliable method for estimating sex. Functions derived from individual metatarsals and from complete sets of metatarsals are tested on the sample used to generate the functions and on two independent samples: one comprising 25 additional individuals from the Terry Collection and the other comprising 12 cadavers donated to the University of Missouri. Functions based on race-specific samples (blacks and whites) and on the pooled-race sample correctly classify 83 to 100% of each sample (including a jackknifed study sample), with a few exceptions. These results are similar to sex-estimation methods from other regions of the appendicular skeleton.

Keywords:
forensic science, physical anthropology, metatarsals, sex estimation, osteometry, discriminant analysis, sexual dimorphism

Paper ID: JFS14261J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14261J
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