Sex Estimation

biological sex

influenced by:

• chromosomes

• genetics

• hormones

gender

a social category based on cultural norms (also culturally specific); an aspect of one’s personal and social identity

sexual dimorphism

phenotypic differences between males and females of the same species; dramatic in some species

adults

Biological anthropologists only estimate sex in what age group?

90-100%

How accurate is sex estimation with the entire skeleton present?

90-95%

How accurate is sex estimation with only the bones of pelvis present?

80-90%

How accurate is sex estimation with only the skull present?

female pubic bone

• broader

• wider pubic bone (squared off rather than V-shaped)

• wider subpubic angle

male pubic bone

• narrower

• V-shaped

• narrower subpubic angle

up to 96%

How accurate is sex estimation when using the following?

• ventral arc

• subpubic concavity

• ischiopubic ramus

ventral arc

present in females, absent in males

subpubic concavity

present in females, absent in males

ischiopubic ramus

narrow and sharp in females, broad and dull in males

sciatic notch morphology

wider and larger in females

preauricular sulcus

variable groove, more often present in females

nuchal crest

pronounced and rough in males, smoother and slender in females

mastoid process

larger in males than in females

supraorbital margin

broader and thicker in males, thinner and sharper in females

supraorbital ridge

pronounced and rounded in males, smooth and flat in females

mental eminence

larger and squarer in males, smaller and pointed in females

up to 90%

How accurate is sex estimation when using sectioning points (univariate)?

up to 94%

How accurate is sex estimation when using discriminant functions (multivariate)?