Award Date

12-1-2014

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biological Science

First Committee Member

James Mah

Second Committee Member

Debra Martin

Third Committee Member

Bernard Hurlbut

Fourth Committee Member

Ronald Lemon

Fifth Committee Member

Clifford Seran

Number of Pages

143

Abstract

This study reports on the use of three methods for sex determination in subadults using the petrous portion of the temporal bone. The purpose of this study was to validate and refine two previously published methods of sex determination for the internal auditory canal as well as to develop a novel method. The sample was comprised of 276 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of a population of subadults age 6-24 (165 females, 111 males) divided into 5 age groups for analysis: Group 1 (age 6-10), Group 2 (age 11-13), Group 3 (age 14-16), Group 4 (age 17-19), and Group 5 (age 20-24). The first method evaluated was the lateral angle method, which failed to reliably predict sex in any age group. There were no statistically significant sex differences in lateral angle measurements for any age group. The second method evaluated and refined for this study was the diameter method. Statistically significant sex differences were found in age groups 2, 4, and 5 for some of the diameter variables. The new method developed for this study was the area method. Statistically significant sex differences were found in age groups 2, 3, and 4 for some of the area variables. A logistic function model including diameter and area variables was able to correctly allocate sex in groups 2, 3, and 4 with an overall accuracy ranging from 84.8% - 88.2%. The results of this study conclude that sexual dimorphism in the petrous portion of the temporal bone exists as early as 11 years old, and this difference can be reliably detected on CBCT scans.

Keywords

Adolescents; Children; Diameter; Lateral angle; Logistic function; Human remains (Archaeology) – Sex determination; Internal auditory meatus; Pars petrosa temporalis; Petrous temporal bone; Sex differences; Temporal bone; Temporal bone – Anatomy

Disciplines

Anthropology | Archaeological Anthropology | Biological and Physical Anthropology | Criminology and Criminal Justice

File Format

pdf

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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