Adult skeletal sex estimation and global standardization

Abstract

Human skeletal remains exhibit sexual dimorphism in both size and shape, with these sex differences resulting from a combination of genetic and environmental factors that are expressed at or around the time of puberty. This chapter describes the primary variables used by forensic anthropologists for sex estimation, what we know regarding variables influencing the expression of those traits, and how practitioners are trying to reconcile these variations to create global standards in sex estimation. While the creation of global equations is challenging, global standardization goes beyond equations. It is important to standardize best practices and procedures. There is even more population variation when it comes to body mass, with sexual dimorphism ranging from 7–28%. Morphologically, the greatest sex differences exist in pelvic shape due to the functional constraints and adaptations of childbirth in females. While considerably more accurate than the skull for sex estimation, population differences in morphological pelvic traits have also been documented.

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