Determination of sex of adult human scapula by discriminant function analysis

Background: Sex determination is one of the most important determinations to be made from human remains and is an essential first step in the development of the biological profile in forensics, anthropology and bioarchaeology. The aim of this study was to determine whether sexing of unknown adult human scapulae can be done by applying values of morphometric parameters and formulae generated by present study on adult human scapulae of known sex and to find out the best parameters for sex determination.
Materials and Methods: Various metric measurements were recorded using osteo metric board, measuring tape, non elastic thread, sliding calipers and vernier calipers on adult human scapulae.
Results: Sex was correctly estimated by using stepwise analysis, for the scapula 95% of males and 96.3% of females with a total accuracy of 95.6%
Direct discriminant function analysis, correct estimated sex for the scapula was 97 % in males and 96.3 % in females with a total accuracy of 96.7%.
Conclusion: Present study exhibited better classification accuracy for multiple variables than those of single variables. In the scapula, the most discriminating variables in stepwise analysis are the Maximum scapular breadth, Glenoid cavity maximum length, Glenoid cavity maximum breadth. In direct analysis, the single most useful variable was the Maximum scapular breadth.