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Abstract：
The aim of the present paper is to determine the sex of the individual using three-dimensional geometric and inertial analyses of metatarsal bones. Metatarsals of 60 adult Chinese subjects of both sexes were scanned using Aquilion One 320 Slice CT Scanner. The three-dimensional models of the metatarsals were reconstructed, and thereafter, a novel software using the center of mass set as the origin and the three principal axes of inertia was employed for model alignment. Eight geometric and inertial variables were assessed: the bone length, bone width, bone height, surface-area-to-volume ratio, bone density, and principal moments of inertia around the x, y, and z axes. Furthermore, the discriminant functions were established using stepwise discriminant function analysis. A cross-validation procedure was performed to evaluate the discriminant accuracy of functions. The results indicated that inertial variables exhibit significant sexual dimorphism, especially principal moments of inertia around the z axis. The highest dimorphic values were found in the surface-area-to-volume ratio, principal moments of inertia around the z axis, and bone height. The accuracy rate of the discriminant functions for sex determination ranged from 88.3% to 98.3% (88.3%-98.3% cross-validated). The highest accuracy of function was established based on the third metatarsal bone. This study showed for the first time that the principal moment of inertia of the human bone may be successfully implemented for sex estimation. In conclusion, the sex of the individual can be accurately estimated using a combination of geometric and inertial variables of the metatarsal bones. The accuracy should be further confirmed in a larger sample size and be tested or independently developed for distinct population/age groups before the functions are widely applied in unidentified skeletons in forensic and bioarcheological contexts.
摘要：
本文的目的是使用meta骨的三维几何和惯性分析来确定个体的性别。使用AquilionOne320切片CT扫描仪扫描了60名成年中国男女受试者的meta骨。重建了跖骨的三维模型，此后,采用以质心为原点和三个惯性主轴的新型软件进行模型对齐。评估了八个几何和惯性变量：骨骼长度，骨宽度,骨高度,表面积与体积比，骨密度,和围绕x的主要惯性矩，y,z轴。此外，使用逐步判别函数分析建立判别函数。执行交叉验证程序以评估函数的判别准确性。结果表明，惯性变量表现出显著的性二态性，特别是围绕z轴的主要惯性矩。在表面积与体积比中发现了最高的双态值，绕z轴的主要惯性矩，和骨骼高度。性别确定的判别函数的准确率为88.3％至98.3％（交叉验证了88.3％-98.3％）。基于第三跖骨骨建立了最高的功能准确性。这项研究首次表明，人体骨骼的主要惯性矩可以成功地用于性别估计。总之,可以使用meta骨的几何和惯性变量的组合来准确地估计个体的性别。在将功能广泛应用于法医和生物考古学背景下的未识别骨骼之前，应在更大的样本量中进一步确认准确性，并针对不同的人群/年龄组进行测试或独立开发。
