Variation in pelvic size between males and females

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1989

Abstract

Selection intensity and phenotypic variability are inversely related. It has been hypothesized that, owing to opposing selection pressures on pelvic morphology in females between efficiency in locomotion and obstetric adequacy, female pelvic morphology is less variable than that in males. The hypothesis was supported based on data derived from observational methods of sexing pelves (Meindl et al., 1985). The hypothesis was tested in the present study based on a metrical analysis of the true pelvis. The results show that there are no sexual differences in pelvic variability. Consequently, while males and females are equally variable in the dimensions of the true pelvis, the visual cues that osteologists use to sex pelves are more variable in males. Copyright © 1989 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

American Journal of Physical Anthropology

Number

679

First Page

59

Last Page

71

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS