Sexual Dimorphism of the Arm Bones in a Modern Greek Population
Drosia Charisi B.Sc.
Department of Animal and Human Physiology, Faculty of Biology, School of Sciences, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, GR 157 01 Athens, Greece.
Search for more papers by this authorConstantine Eliopoulos Ph.D.
Department of Animal and Human Physiology, Faculty of Biology, School of Sciences, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, GR 157 01 Athens, Greece.
Research Centre in Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology, School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, U.K.
Search for more papers by this authorVelissaria Vanna M.Sc., M.St.
Institute of Archaeology, University College London, 31-34 Gordon Square, WC1H 0PY, London, U.K.
Search for more papers by this authorChristos G. Koilias Ph.D.
Department of Informatics, Technological Educational Institute of Athens, Aghiou Spyridonos, Egaleo, GR 122 10 Athens, Greece.
Search for more papers by this authorSotiris K. Manolis Ph.D.
Department of Animal and Human Physiology, Faculty of Biology, School of Sciences, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, GR 157 01 Athens, Greece.
Search for more papers by this authorDrosia Charisi B.Sc.
Department of Animal and Human Physiology, Faculty of Biology, School of Sciences, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, GR 157 01 Athens, Greece.
Search for more papers by this authorConstantine Eliopoulos Ph.D.
Department of Animal and Human Physiology, Faculty of Biology, School of Sciences, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, GR 157 01 Athens, Greece.
Research Centre in Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology, School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, U.K.
Search for more papers by this authorVelissaria Vanna M.Sc., M.St.
Institute of Archaeology, University College London, 31-34 Gordon Square, WC1H 0PY, London, U.K.
Search for more papers by this authorChristos G. Koilias Ph.D.
Department of Informatics, Technological Educational Institute of Athens, Aghiou Spyridonos, Egaleo, GR 122 10 Athens, Greece.
Search for more papers by this authorSotiris K. Manolis Ph.D.
Department of Animal and Human Physiology, Faculty of Biology, School of Sciences, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, GR 157 01 Athens, Greece.
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Abstract: Several studies have shown that sex determination methods based on measurements of the skeleton are population specific. Metric traits of the long bones of the arm have been reported as reliable indicators of sex. This study was designed to determine whether the three long bones of the arm can be used for sex determination on a skeletal population from Greece. The material used consists of the arm bones of 204 adult individuals (111 males and 93 females) coming from the Modern Human Skeletal Collection of the University of Athens. The age range is 19–96 years for males and 20–99 years for females. The maximum lengths and epiphyseal widths were measured in the long bones of the arm (humerus, radius, and ulna). The discriminant analysis of the metrical data of each long bone gave very high discrimination accuracies. The rate of correct sex discrimination based on different long bones ranges from 90.30% (ulna) to 95.70% (humerus). In addition, intra- and inter-observer error tests were performed. These indicated that replication of measurements was satisfactory for the same observer over time and between observers. The results of this study show that metric characteristics of the arm bones can be used for the determination of sex in skeletal remains from Greece and that bone dimensions are population specific.
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