Question

When determining whether a skeleton is male or female forensic scientists first look at the overall appearance. A female tends to be much __________ and less knobby. A male appears much _____,________, and more bumpy ________.

Answer 1

Forensic scientists distinguish between male and female skeletons by examining the pelvic region, where females have wider and shallower pelves with larger subpubic angles, while males have heavier and more robust pelves with narrower features suitable for their physical build.

Step-by-step explanation:

When determining whether a skeleton is male or female forensic scientists look at the overall appearance of the skeleton. A female skeleton tends to be much lighter and less knobby. A male skeleton appears much heavier, thicker, and more bumpy. Notably, the female pelvis is adapted for childbirth and thus is wider, shallower, and has a broader angle between the pubic bones than the male pelvis, which is more robust with narrower angles and a heart-shaped pelvic inlet. The pelvic differences are particularly important as the female pelvic bones are designed to facilitate childbirth, resulting in a larger pelvic outlet and a more rounded or oval-shaped pelvic inlet compared to males. The subpubic angle in females is greater than 80 degrees, whereas in males it is typically less than 70 degrees. Additionally, the greater sciatic notch is broader in females, corresponding to their wider hips.