Sexual dimorphism from proximal epiphysiseal measurements of adult dry humerus bone

Sex determination is the first essential step for positive identification when a decomposed body is recovered. Taking into consideration the population aspect of sexual dimorphism of the skeleton, the present study was undertaken to create a sex identification technique using osteometric standards, derived from a central Indian population. Proximal epiphysis of total 200 dry humerus bones were measured according to standard osteometric techniques. The differences between the mean in males and females was significant (p < 0.001). About more than 82% of the cases were correctly classified when all measurements were applied jointly. The most effective single dimension was transverse diameter and girth of humerus head (both 82%). The current study provides standards for a population that has not been represented so far in the existing databases. It demonstrates that the humerus is an effective bone for the estimation of sex because even in a fragmentary state it can give high classification accuracy.