Original paper

Sex determination from human patella in a Polish medieval sample

Tomaszewska, Agnieszka; Kwiatkowska, Barbara; Grabka, Dawid

Anthropologischer Anzeiger Volume 79 No. 4 (2022), p. 423 - 432

published: Aug 25, 2022
published online: Mar 27, 2022
manuscript accepted: Feb 14, 2022
manuscript revision received: Feb 14, 2022
manuscript revision requested: Nov 12, 2021
manuscript received: Feb 15, 2021

DOI: 10.1127/anthranz/2022/1450

BibTeX file

ArtNo. ESP140007904003, Price: 29.00 €

Download preview PDF Buy as PDF

Abstract

This study aimed to address whether the anthropometric features of the patella can be used to determine the sex of the individuals on the basis of the skeletal remains and to set limit values for anthropometric measurements and indicators of the patella in relation to each sex. 71 patellas (32 female and 39 male) from the Middle Ages from Wroclaw, Poland, were analyzed. The measurements (the greatest height, width, thickness, width of the lateral and medial joint surface and the height of these joint surfaces) and ratios were calculated (height to width, height to thickness as well as width to height of lateral and medial joint surfaces) and tested according to sexual dimorphism. The best parameter in terms of discriminatory assessment was the patella’s highest height, which made it possible to classify the sex in 46.5% of cases. However, an index of the sum of the height, width and thickness measurements seems to be even better for differentiating between the sexes, making it possible to correctly classify the sex in 49.3% of cases. Due to some limitations of this study and the need of population-specific standard, it is recommend to employ the patella in sex determination only in cases of fragmented human remains and when no other method can be applied. Further investigation of possible factors influencing the variability of its size and shape should be explored in larger and geographically more diverse samples, and this could contribute to forensic, clinical, anatomical, and anthropological studies in this body part.

Keywords

Sex determination • skeletal remains • patella • anthropometry • sexual dimorphism