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New methods for sex estimation using sternum and rib morphology

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Abstract

Sex estimation of skeletal remains is of great importance in the fields of physical and forensic anthropology. Since skeletons are often incomplete, it is essential to estimate sex from as many skeletal remains as possible. The aim of this study was to establish new methods for estimating sex using the morphology of the sternum and the fifth to ninth ribs. We considered two conditions of skeletal preservation: All skeletal elements measured are available, or only a single element is available. Traditional or virtual measurements were carried out on three samples: (1) A skeletal sample from the Hamann-Todd Human osteological collection, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, USA (N = 413), was used to create prediction equations for sex estimation. (2) A recent, CT-based sample from Israel (N = 33) was used to cross-validate the accuracy of the prediction equations. (3) A skeletal sample from the Anthropological Collection at Tel Aviv University (N = 15) was used to test the validity of the virtual measurements. Reliability and validity analyses were carried out via intraclass correlation coefficient analysis. Prediction equations for sex were created using logistic regression. The measurements were found to be highly reliable and valid. Success rates for sex estimation were high (> 80%) and correspond well between the skeletal and recent samples, especially for the left sixth, left eigth, and left ninth ribs. To conclude, measurements of the sternum and ribs are valuable for estimating sex and can be carried out using either traditional or virtual tools. Of all the skeletal elements examined in this study, the sternum, left sixth, left eighth, and left ninth ribs were found to be the most reliable skeletal elements for estimating the sex of an individual.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Mrs. Anna Behar and Mr. Ariel Pokhojaev, Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University for their assistance in preparing the figures. We thank Prof. Bruce Latimer and Mr. Lyman Jellema from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland OH, for their support in using the HTH collection. CT scanning of skeletal material was carried out at the Shmunis Family Anthropology Institute by Shiri Ellenbogen.

Funding

The study was financially supported by the Dan David Foundation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Therapy, Zefat Academic College, Jerusalem Street 11, P.O. Box 160, 1320611, Zefat, Israel

    Smadar Peleg & Ruth Pelleg Kallevag

  2. Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Smadar Peleg, Ruth Pelleg Kallevag & Hila May

  3. The Dan David Center for Human Evolution and Biohistory Research, Shmunis Family Anthropology Institute, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Smadar Peleg, Ruth Pelleg Kallevag & Hila May

  4. Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Social Welfare & Health Studies, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, 3498838, Haifa, Israel

    Gali Dar

  5. Wingate Academic College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences at the Wingate Institute, 4290200, Israel, 4290200, Netanya, Israel

    Nili Steinberg

  6. Spinal Research Lab, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Health Professions, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Youssef Masharawi

Authors
  1. Smadar Peleg
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  3. Gali Dar
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Correspondence to Hila May.

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Peleg, S., Pelleg Kallevag, R., Dar, G. et al. New methods for sex estimation using sternum and rib morphology. Int J Legal Med 134, 1519–1530 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-020-02266-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-020-02266-4

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