Fetal Ilium as a Tool For Sex Determination: Discriminant Functional Analysis

Abstract

Background: Sex determination has been the most intriguing puzzle for forensic pathologists and
anthropologists for which efforts are being done since long. Sexual dimorphism is well established in the
adult pelvis and it is known to provide the highest level of information about sexual dimorphism. This study
was conducted to know whether this dimorphism exists in fetal bones?
Method: A total of 34 pairs of fetal pelvis bones (22 Males + 12 Females), age ranging from 4 months to
full term were collected from unidentified dead fetuses brought in the Department of Forensic Medicine
for the routine medicolegal autopsies, to study for sexual dimorphism in the Department of Anatomy, Pt.
B. D. Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak. Samples were divided in 2 age groups and various metric parameters were
recorded with the help of digital vernier caliper. Data obtained was subjected to descriptive & discriminant
functional analysis.
Conclusion: Results of Descriptive and Discriminant Functional Analysis showed that sex determination
can be done with 100% of accuracy by using different combinations of parameters of fetal ilium. This
study illustrates that sexual dimorphism exists from early fetal life & after mid pregnancy; it can be clearly
established by discriminant functional analysis.
This research was limited in its analysis due to less availability of specimens as this represents only the
results in north Indian population. Future studies should be done to explore different populations to better
understand the sexual dimorphism in fetal bones of different geographic contexts.