Get Permission Sake, Vani, and Lokanadham: Sacral index and its clinical importance in human dry sacral bones - Morphometric study


Introduction

In identification of sex, sacral bones are of greatest interest to the forensic experts and anthropologists.1 The morphometric parameters of sacrum varies in different populations leads to variations in sacral index.2, 3 The sacral length, sacral breadth, curved length of sacrum, first sacral vertebral dimensions, ala of sacrum length play a greater role in sex determination. The sacral index is one of the best parameter in identify the sex.3 The sacral index plays a significant role as sex determining parameter among populations observed in previous literature.4, 5 Our study aimed to analyze the sacral index and its significance in sex determination.

Materials and Methods

A total of 42 dry adult human sacral bones of known sex (19 – female sacra; 23- male sacra) collected from Anatomy Department, Santhiram Medical College, Nandyal to measure the sacral index and its significance. The length and breadth of male and female sacra were measured separately using vernier calipers. The sacral length measured from the promontory to the middle of antero-inferior margin of last sacral vertebra (Figure 1). The sacral breadth measured from the lateral most points of ale of sacrum (Figure 2). The parametric values were statistically analyzed.

The sacral index (SI) is calculated by the following formula

Sacral Index (SI) = Sacral Breadth X 100

Sacral Length

Figure 1

The length (A-B) of the sacrum measured from the midline from antero-superior margin of the promontory to the middle of antero-inferior margin of last sacral vertebra

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Figure 2

The breadth(C-D) of the sacrum measured between the lateral most points of ale of sacrum

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/typeset-prod-media-server/39c322a2-c8e6-4783-ab65-8edec9be2119image2.jpeg

Figure 3

Distribution of Sacral bones

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Table 1

Distribution of adult sacra and their sacral index

S.No. Parameters of Male Sacrum S.No Parameters of Female Sacrum
Sex Length(mm) Breadth(mm) Sacral Index Sex Length(mm) Breadth(mm) Sacral Index
1 Male 97 98 101 1 Female 98 103 105
2 Male 96 95 98.9 2 Female 96 98 102
3 Male 96 98 102 3 Female 89 91 102
4 Male 97 98 101 4 Female 98 104 106.1
5 Male 98 96 97.9 5 Female 96 98 102
6 Male 96 98 102 6 Female 94 98 104.2
7 Male 98 98 100 7 Female 98 103 97.9
8 Male 98 96 97.9 8 Female 97 104 107.2
9 Male 96 101 105 9 Female 96 102 106.2
10 Male 96 98 102 10 Female 98 101 103
11 Male 98 98 100 11 Female 96 98 102
12 Male 96 98 102 12 Female 98 103 105.1
13 Male 97 101 105 13 Female 98 101 103
14 Male 95 96 101 14 Female 92 98 106.5
15 Male 98 96 97.9 15 Female 95 98 103.1
16 Male 94 96 104 16 Female 91 96 105.4
17 Male 92 94 102.1 17 Female 97 101 104
18 Male 96 98 102 18 Female 97 98 101
19 Male 98 98 100 19 Female 98 102 104
20 Male 102 96 94.1 Mean 95.894 99.842
21 Male 98 102 104 Sd 2.643 3.287 2.271
22 Male 95 98 103
23 Male 98 103 105
Mean 96.739 96.521 101.142
Sd 1.912 1.805 2.148

Table 2

Statistical analysis

S. No. Sex Length Mean+Sd Breadth Mean+Sd Sacral Index Mean+Sd
1 Male 96.739+1.912 96.521+1.805 101.142+2.148
2 Female 95.894+2.643 99.842+3.287 103.668+2.271

Results

The sacral bones are collected and categorized based on their sex and considered for the current study (Figure 3). We noted the mean sacral length in male sacra was 96.739+1.912, and mean sacral breadth was 96.521+1.805. The mean sacral length in female sacra was 95.894+2.643 and mean sacral breadth was 99.842+3.287 in the present study (Table 1). We noted the mean sacral index 101.142+2.148 in male sacra, and 103.668+2.271 in female sacra with significantly higher sacral index in female sacra than male sacra in this study (Table 2)

Discussion

The female sacral length is lower than length of male sacra.6, 7 Greater length may be due to the incidence of six piece sacrum in male sacra.4 The sacral index and mean breadth were significantly higher in female sacra compared with male sacra in the present study. The results are in agreement with previous literature.8, 9, 10 In determination of sex, the veracity of sacral index is 95% and also there is a variation of sacral index populations due to difference in morphometric parameters of the sacra.5 In this study, the sacral index of male and female are 101.1, 103.6 classified under medium sacra category (Hyplatycheiric category - Sacral Index from 100 to 105.9) according to previous literature.10 Sacral index in male sacra is much higher compared to Telangana Region and Punjab Region studies on sacral index.11, 12 The female sacral index is much higher compared to Madhya Pradesh Region and Varanasi Region studies.13, 14 The sacral index was higher in female sacra in Whites and Blacks (White males-106.49, Black males -106.17; white females- 108.69, Black females - 112.35) The lower sacral index in males compared to sacral index in females affirms that sacral index varies in divergent populations.13, 14, 15, 16

Conclusion

Our study acknowledges the importance of sacral index and its significance can be useful in sexual dimorphism.

Source of Funding

None.

Conflict of Interest

None.

Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to Dr. N. Vinay Kumar for his valuable suggestion & support during the period of the study.

References

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V Davivongs The pelvic girdle of the Australian aborigine; Sex differences and sex determinationAm J Phys Anthropol196321444355

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S Singh K C Gangrade Sexing of adult clavicle verification and applicability of demarking pointJ Indian Acad Forensic Sci196872030

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V Maddikunta M Ravinder Morphometric study of sacrum in sex determination in Telengana region peopleInt J Res Med Sci201421164

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A K Arora P Gupta S Mahajan S K Sonney Significance of sacral index in estimation of sex in sacra of cadavers in PunjabJ Indian Acad Forensic Med20103221047

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P Shailendra N Manish M Pradeep S W Chandra A Study of Sacral Index and Its Interpretation in Sex Determination in Madhya PradeshJ Indian Acad Forensic Med20143621469

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S P Singh S Singh Identification of sex from the humerusInd J Med Res19726037

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M S Somesh H B Sridevi B V Murlimanju An anatomical study of adult sacrum with its emphasis on its sexual dimorphism in south indian populationInt J Anat Res20153414916

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https://doi.org/ 10.18231/j.ijcap.2020.057


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