Sexual dimorphism through the study of atlas vertebra in the Brazilian population

BACKGROUND: Sex determination by linear measurements of the bones is widely used because of the several kinds of death in which the corpses can be damaged. AIM: The aim of this study was to establish a logit for sexual dimorphism through measurements of the atlas vertebra. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The principle sample was composed of 191 skeletons belonging to the Forensic Physical Anthropology Laboratory Prof. Eduardo Daruge. However, first, a calibration with other 25 skeletons was carried out. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a digital caliper, linear measurements were made of the anteroposterior diameter of the atlas vertebra (variable A), anteroposterior diameter of the rachidian canal (variable B), transverse diameter of the rachidian canal (variable C), and maximum transverse diameter of the atlas vertebra (variable D). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The data were analyzed using IBM(®) SPSS(®) 25 Statistics program. RESULTS: The mean measurements of all four variables for men were higher than that for women, being observed that variable D obtained the major discrepancy between the sexes. Considering both sexes, the variable C obtained the best results of standard deviation, while the variable D achieved the worse results. The t-test observed acceptance about hypothesis that exists differences between the gender and all four measures assessed. The logit developed is sex = −24.970 + 0.183 × A + 0.230 × D, in which “A” represents anteroposterior diameter of the atlas and “D” represents the maximum transverse diameter of the atlas. CONCLUSION: This model results in 81.2% accuracy, 85.5% sensitivity, and 75.3% specificity.