Week 5 & 6 - Sex Determination

Question 1

Sexual dimorphism

Answer 1

phenotypic differences between females and males of the same species
- > humans have little dimorphism, but it’s not uniform across populations

Question 2

general differences between males and females

Answer 2

• > females are generally smaller in weight and breadth

- > muscle attachments are smaller in females

Question 3

general variations in the pelvis

Answer 3

the pelvis is short and broad in females and tall and narrow in males

Question 4

traits of phenice

Answer 4

3 features that are scored as
- > 1 = female
- > 2 = ambiguous
- > 3 = male
* 96% accuracy
features
1. Ventral arc
2. Subpubic concavity 
3. Ishiopubic ramus ridge

Question 5

explain the background of sex determination in NON adults

Answer 5

• > most sex differences are not formed/developed until after puberty
• > accuracy of using methods we discussed in class are low and interobserver error is high
• > limited juvenile material of know age to establish standards

Question 6

how to make a sex determination

Answer 6

• > Score all cranial and pelvic non-metric traits as
  appropriate (some have scores, some are present
  or absent, some are descriptive)
• > You may have some traits that are more male-like
  and some that are more female-like
• > Remember that the pelvis is most diagnostic, so it
  typically gets the most weight when assessing
  scores