Gender Determination Using Bones
Which of the following bones is considered the most reliable indicator for determining sex in an adult skeleton?
A. Femur
B. Skull
C. Pelvis
D. Ribs
Answer: C. Pelvis
Explanation: The pelvis (specifically the os coxa or innominate bone) is the most reliable skeletal element for sex determination due to significant differences in its structure, reflecting adaptations for childbirth in females.
A sub-pubic angle of approximately 90 degrees or greater is characteristic of which gender's pelvis?
A. Male
B. Female
C. It is a juvenile trait.
D. It is an unreliable indicator.
Answer: B. Female
Explanation: The female pelvis has a wider subpubic angle (greater than 90 degrees) compared to the male pelvis (which is typically 50-80 degrees), an adaptation to facilitate the birth canal.
Which feature of the skull is typically more prominent and robust in males compared to females?
A. The mastoid process
B. The forehead
C. The chin
D. The occipital protuberance
Answer: A. The mastoid process
Explanation: The mastoid process, located behind the ear, is generally larger and more robust in males due to stronger muscle attachments. Other features like the brow ridge and nuchal crest are also more pronounced in males.
What is the term for the robust ridge located at the back of the male skull where neck muscles attach, which is generally less pronounced in females?
A. Mastoid process
B. Occipital bun
C. Nuchal crest
D. Frontal eminence
Answer: C. Nuchal crest
Explanation: The nuchal crest, also known as the external occipital protuberance, is a ridge on the occipital bone at the back of the skull. It is typically more developed and robust in males due to stronger neck muscle attachments.
When analyzing the skull, which of the following traits is more likely to indicate a female?
A. Sloping forehead
B. Pronounced brow ridge (supraorbital torus)
C. Rounded superior orbital margins (eye orbits)
D. Square chin
Answer: C. Rounded superior orbital margins (eye orbits)
Explanation: Females typically have more rounded superior orbital margins (the upper rim of the eye sockets), while males tend to have squarer or more blunt margins.
The greater sciatic notch in a male pelvis is generally described as:
A. Wide and shallow
B. Narrow and deep
C. V-shaped
D. W-shaped
Answer: B. Narrow and deep
Explanation: The greater sciatic notch, a prominent feature on the os coxa, is characteristically narrow and deep in males and wide and shallow in females. This is another key pelvic distinction for sex determination.
Which bone's head (the rounded top part) is generally larger in males than in females?
A. Humerus
B. Femur
C. Radius
D. Tibia
Answer: B. Femur
Explanation: The head of the femur, located at the top of the thigh bone, is typically larger and more robust in males than in females. This is due to overall differences in skeletal and muscle mass.
The sacrum in a male skeleton is generally described as:
A. Shorter and wider
B. Longer and narrower
C. More curved
D. Flat and broad
Answer: B. Longer and narrower
Explanation: The male sacrum is generally longer and narrower, whereas the female sacrum is shorter and wider, contributing to the broader pelvic outlet in females.
Which part of the skull is most useful for sexing in a fragmentary or incomplete cranium?
A. The frontal bone (forehead)
B. The parietal bones (sides)
C. The occipital bone (back)
D. The mandible (jaw)
Answer: C. The occipital bone (back)
Explanation: The occipital bone, particularly the nuchal crest and the occipital protuberance, is one of the most reliable features for sex determination, even in a fragmentary skull, due to its distinct muscle attachment points that differ between sexes.
In forensic anthropology, why is the pelvis considered the most accurate skeletal feature for sex determination?
A. It is the largest bone in the body.
B. Its traits are not affected by age or nutrition.
C. It shows distinct differences related to a female's reproductive function.
D. It is the most commonly recovered bone from burial sites.
Answer: C. It shows distinct differences related to a female's reproductive function.
Explanation: The anatomical differences in the male and female pelvis, such as the wider subpubic angle and greater sciatic notch in females, are a result of evolutionary adaptations for childbirth, making these features the most reliable for determining sex.
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