Sexual dimorphism by subtrochanteric antero posterior diameter of femur in Gujarati population

Introduction: Femur is the longest and strongest bone in human body. Determination of sex is relatively easy if the entire skeleton is available for examination. In the absence of skull and pelvis long bones either individually or in combination has been used for determining sex. Material and methods: Present Study was carried out on 141 human femora (115 male, 26 female) of known sexes in Anatomy Department, M. P. Shah Government Medical College, Jamnagar, Gujarat by using demarcating point method. The sub trochanteric antero posterior diameter of the upper end of the shaft of femur taken right angle to the transverse diameter of the upper end of the shaft of femur, Where it shows maximum lateral projection. When the lateral projection is not clear, this measurement is taken 5 cm below the base of lesser trochanter, measured with caliper. Results: Average Sub trochanteric antero posterior diameter of right male femur was 25.56 mm, average Sub trochanteric antero posterior diameter of right female femur was 23.58 mm, average Sub trochanteric antero posterior diameter of left male femur was 25.77 mm and average Sub trochanteric antero posterior diameter of left female femur was 22.86 mm. DP for Sub trochanteric antero posterior diameter of right male femur was >28.45 mm and for right female femur was <19.14 mm, while for left male femur >29.39 mm and for left female femur <18.56 mm. DP method identified 7.27 % right and 11.67 % left male femur correctly as male. Conclusion: Mean sub trochanteric Antero posterior diameter of male femur is more than female femur in the Gujarati population of present study. Findings of the present study may be useful in medico legal cases for estimation of sex from available fragmentary femora. The study can also be useful to anatomist & physical anthropologist.