ASM 275 Unit 2 - Study Guide Exam
With Complete Solutions
Know the techniques for assessing sex
- which is most accurate
- which is least accurate - ANSWER - metric and non metric
- pelvis
* most accurate, primary sexual characteristics
- cranium
* second most accurate, secondary sexual characteristics
- post-cranium and dentition
* least accurate, based on sexual dimorphism
Know what features are associated with each sex
(for example, ventral presence is a female condition) - ANSWER - overall pelvic
morphology: pelvic differences reflect primary sexual characteristics (parturition)
- subpubic angle: females wider than males, females have iliac flare, males have small,
females have wide pelvic inlet
- for partial/fragmentary pelvis: pubic bone is most informative,
1) sciatic notch (preserves best)
* male sciatic notch narrow, female is wide
2) ventric arc
* presence is ONLY female
3) sub-pubic concavity
* straight in males, females have the concavity
* its presence is ONLY F
4) ischio-pubico rams ridge
* sharp raised ridge is only in females
5) pubic bone width
* wide in females, narrow in males
, sexual dimorphism - ANSWER "sex-based 2 forms"
the tendency for males and females of a species to vary in size, with males being larger
in primates
non-metric variables - ANSWER - pelvic morphology
- cranial morphology
metric variables - ANSWER dimensions with breakpoints (e.g. max diameter of
humeral/femoral head)
- the use of calipers
pelvic morphology - ANSWER - sciatic notch: the notch in the ilium, one of the bones
that make up human pelvis
- ventral arc: ride of bone which may occur on the ventral surface of the corpus of the os
pubis in adult females
- subpubic concavity: located on the pubis, inferiorly to the obturator foramen
- ischio-pubic ramus ridge: consists of the pubic ramus from the pubis and the inferior
ramus of the ischium
- pubic bone size: wide in females, narrow in males
shape of sacrum - ANSWER fusion of 5 sacral vertebrae
- long, narrow, straighter and pronounced in males
- shorter, wider, and more curved posteriorly with less pronounced promontory in
females
sex-specific aspects of cranial anatomy - ANSWER - mastoid process: males are larger
in volume and length than females
- nuchal crest: back of skull where muscles attach
* males have larger neck muscles = larger nuchal crest (how much skull is raised, little
in females, hooked projections in females)
- supraorbital margins: females less thick than males
- glabella projection: (area between eyes, right above nose) females = small, don't
project far and males = large brow ridges and more projecting glabella
- mandible/chin development: female = light/poor developed, male = defined and
prominent (forward protruding)
- forehead profile: f = more vertical forehead, m= more sloping
With Complete Solutions
Know the techniques for assessing sex
- which is most accurate
- which is least accurate - ANSWER - metric and non metric
- pelvis
* most accurate, primary sexual characteristics
- cranium
* second most accurate, secondary sexual characteristics
- post-cranium and dentition
* least accurate, based on sexual dimorphism
Know what features are associated with each sex
(for example, ventral presence is a female condition) - ANSWER - overall pelvic
morphology: pelvic differences reflect primary sexual characteristics (parturition)
- subpubic angle: females wider than males, females have iliac flare, males have small,
females have wide pelvic inlet
- for partial/fragmentary pelvis: pubic bone is most informative,
1) sciatic notch (preserves best)
* male sciatic notch narrow, female is wide
2) ventric arc
* presence is ONLY female
3) sub-pubic concavity
* straight in males, females have the concavity
* its presence is ONLY F
4) ischio-pubico rams ridge
* sharp raised ridge is only in females
5) pubic bone width
* wide in females, narrow in males
, sexual dimorphism - ANSWER "sex-based 2 forms"
the tendency for males and females of a species to vary in size, with males being larger
in primates
non-metric variables - ANSWER - pelvic morphology
- cranial morphology
metric variables - ANSWER dimensions with breakpoints (e.g. max diameter of
humeral/femoral head)
- the use of calipers
pelvic morphology - ANSWER - sciatic notch: the notch in the ilium, one of the bones
that make up human pelvis
- ventral arc: ride of bone which may occur on the ventral surface of the corpus of the os
pubis in adult females
- subpubic concavity: located on the pubis, inferiorly to the obturator foramen
- ischio-pubic ramus ridge: consists of the pubic ramus from the pubis and the inferior
ramus of the ischium
- pubic bone size: wide in females, narrow in males
shape of sacrum - ANSWER fusion of 5 sacral vertebrae
- long, narrow, straighter and pronounced in males
- shorter, wider, and more curved posteriorly with less pronounced promontory in
females
sex-specific aspects of cranial anatomy - ANSWER - mastoid process: males are larger
in volume and length than females
- nuchal crest: back of skull where muscles attach
* males have larger neck muscles = larger nuchal crest (how much skull is raised, little
in females, hooked projections in females)
- supraorbital margins: females less thick than males
- glabella projection: (area between eyes, right above nose) females = small, don't
project far and males = large brow ridges and more projecting glabella
- mandible/chin development: female = light/poor developed, male = defined and
prominent (forward protruding)
- forehead profile: f = more vertical forehead, m= more sloping
