A Univariate Approach to Sex Estimation for the Fragmentary Upper Limb.

Although there are numerous reliable multivariate models for sex estimation, many scenarios, both forensic and archaeological, result in the recovery of fragmentary remains, which prevents the collection of various standard measurements. The purpose of this research was to establish metric applications for sex estimation from the distal humerus and distal radius of European/American Whites and American Blacks. Data for this research were retrieved from a sample consisting of a larger database from multiple skeletal collections. Measurements include epicondylar breadth, breadth of the capitulum-trochlea, and distal breadth of the radius. Student's t-test and descriptive statistics were utilized to analyze the data. Classification rates ranged from 75% to 96.4%, with the capitulum-trochlea breadth performing best. Overall, significant metric differences exist between the sexes in the distal humerus and radius and can be utilized to estimate sex. This study offers a reliable alternative sex estimation technique applicable to fragmentary or damaged remains.