Sexual Ambiguity based on the Length of Femur-A Statistical Analysis in South Indian Population Yogesh C1,*, Amirthvarshan A, Undergraduate 1Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Velammal Medical College Hospital & Research Institute, Madurai, Tamil Nadu *Corresponding Author: Dr. Yogesh C, Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Velammal Medical College Hospital & Research Institute, Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Email: dr.c.yogesh@gmail.com. Phone: 9980025510
Online published on 17 July, 2019. Abstract Introduction Identification of sex from skeleton is an important demographic assessment in medicolegal investigation. Length of femur is an important and reliable skeletal element for sex determination. Objectives The aim of the study is to determine the sex of the individual based on the length of femur from the femora obtained from the students in a medical college in South India. Method A total of 50 bones were obtained from the students of Forensic Medicine Department in a medical college in South India and the maximum vertical distance between upper end of head of femur and the lowest point on femoral condyle were measured with the osteometric board. Results The maximum length of right male femur ranges from 39cm to 48cm and the maximum length of a right female femur ranges from 38cm to 43cm. The demarking point is 45.2cm and 44.8cm respectively for right and left male femora and 35.45cm and 35.97cm respectively for right and left female femora. p-value <0.05 is statistically significant in both male and female femora. Conclusion The mean maximum length of femur in a male is about 43.23cm and female is about 40.76cm contributing to the increased general height of the males. Definite sexual identification can be made only in male femora-23.07% on the right and 30.76% on the left. The study concludes that the female femora most often shows a mixed range making it difficult to determine only with the linear dimension and requires the need for other parameters for correct sex determination. Top Keywords Length of femur, Demarking point, sex determination, forensic anthropology, sexual dimorphism. Top |