Biostatistics Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Biostatistics, including details on statistics, uncertainty, probability, modeling.

Metrical and non-metrical assessment of population affinity from the calcaneus.

Bidmos M

School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa. bidmosma@anatomy.wits.ac.za

To date, there are no metric standards for differentiating between population groups from measurements of the calcaneus in South Africa. Previously, some of the measurements of the calcaneus have been used for sex determination in Americans, Europeans, Italians and South Africans. However, the variations in the number of articular facet present on the superior surface of the calcaneus have been observed in different population groups. This study aims at investigating the potentials of measurements of the calcaneus in diagnosing population affinity and observes population variations of the number of articular facet present on its superior surface in indigenous South Africans and those of European descent. Nine measurements were taken from 180 non-pathological left calcanei in a sample of known sex and population affinity obtained from the Raymond A. Dart Collection of Human Skeletons. Three articular facet types were observed. A significantly higher incidence of type A was observed in South Africans of European descent (SAED) population group while type B predominated in the indigenous South African (ISA) population group. Type C even though rare was found only in ISA group. The metrical data were subjected to discriminant function analyses. The average accuracy in correct classification (81-89%) obtained for the discriminant function equations derived in this study may assist in the determination of population affinity when the calcaneus is present for analysis in forensic cases.

Published 24 April 2006 in Forensic Sci Int, 159(1): 6-13.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Biostatistics Research Today. All Rights Reserved.