ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 25 May 2005
Page Count: 6

A Test of Sex Determination from Measurements of Chest Radiographs
Torwalt, CRMM
University of Manitoba, Manitoba

Hoppa, RD
University of Manitoba, Manitoba

(Received 2 October 2004; accepted 19 March 2005)

Abstract

Sexually dimorphic distinctions within the human thoracic area may include morphological as well as metric differences in thesternum and 4th rib. This research assesses the validity of a set of previously published measurements from chest radiographs and their use in contemporary forensic situations. The chest plates from 130 adult individuals of a known sample undergoing medico-legal post-mortem examination were examined at autopsy. Thoracic radiographs were taken using a Faxitron ® cabinet X-ray machine at 40 kV using Kodak Diagnostic Film Ready Pack X-Omat TL. Measurements were taken to the nearest millimetre using a sliding calliper. Logistic regression analysis of measurements of the sternum and 4th rib was undertaken to determine sex. Using 4th rib width and sternal area, sex was predicted at an accuracy of 95.8% for males and 90.3% for females.

Keywords:
forensic science, forensic anthropology, radiographs, sex determination, logistic regression, metric, 4th rib, sternum

Paper ID: JFS2004425
DOI: 10.1520/JFS2004425
ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.