PRELIMINARY STUDY OF SEX IDENTIFICATION FROM CLAVICLES IN A THAI POPULATION

Abstract

Human bone identification is an important forensic anthropological technique and has potential in the solution of crimes. However, the accuracy of this technique is different in success rate because of the individual characteristics of each bones and external factors. This study aimed to identify sex of 200 Thai clavicles (100 males and 100 females) collected from Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University and Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Khonkaen University by measurements in six parameters of clavicle including 1. Maximum Length of Clavicle (MaxL) 2. Width of acromion end Anterior-Posterior at Acromion end (APA) 3. Anterior-Posterior at Sternal end (APS) 4. Superior-Inferior at Acromion end (SIA) 5. Superior-Inferior at Sternal end (SIS) 6. Circumference at Mid-shaft (CirMid). Discriminant function analysis and descriptive statistics were used for sex estimation. The results showed that an average of six parameters in males were significantly greater than in females (p < 0.05). Right circumference at mid- shaft (RCirMid) was the most accurate parameter in the estimation of sex. The classification rate was 80.0%. Moreover, researchers found that all parameters have significantly greater value in males than females and were consistent with previous studies in other populations.