Premium
Sex identification from the auricular surface of the adult human ilium
Author(s) -
Ali R. S.,
Maclaughlin S. M.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
international journal of osteoarchaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1099-1212
pISSN - 1047-482X
DOI - 10.1002/oa.1390010108
Subject(s) - sexual dimorphism , articular surface , medicine , anatomy , identification (biology) , sexual difference , sex characteristics , joint (building) , biology , psychology , architectural engineering , botany , psychoanalysis , engineering
The sacro‐iliac joint has largely been excluded in studies of sex identification from the adult human skeleton. Yet this is a joint involved in the transmission of body weight and as such would be expected to exhibit sexual dimorphism. In addition, the auricular surface of the ilium tends to persist even in fragmented remains by virtue of its close proximity to the acetabulo‐cristal buttress. The aim of this investigation was to assess the accuracy with which sex could be predicted from dimensions of the auricular surface of the ilium. Significant sex differences were found in the size and shape of the auricular surface. However, these differences were of insufficient magnitude to permit discrimination between the sexes with any acceptable degree of accuracy. Therefore, the auricular surface of the ilium is not recommended for the purpose of sex identification.