Testing landmark redundancy for sex‐based shape analysis of the adult human os coxa

Objectives To test the individual effectiveness of common landmarks used in sex estimation of whole adult coxal bones in sex‐based shape analysis and propose a method to determine how many principal components of sex‐based shape to include for discriminant function analysis. Methods Three‐dimensional models (NextEngine desktop laser scanner) of left and right os coxae from 396 individuals (William Bass Skeletal Collection, Forensic Anthropology Centre, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN) were subjected to shape analysis using 32 landmarks (Landmark 3.6, Institute for Data Analysis and Visualization). Each landmark was individually removed and subjected to a new principal component analysis to identify the effect omitting a landmark has on PC1/PC2 ordination. Landmarks that poorly discriminated sex‐based shape were considered redundant for analysis on sex estimation. Results This study identified 17 landmarks that represent sex‐based shape of right and left coxal bones most effectively, these are: the anterior superior iliac spine; posterior superior iliac spine; posterior inferior iliac spine; iliac crest; apex of the auricular surface; greater sciatic notch; ischial spine; superior, inferior and distal points on ischial tuberosity; superior, inferior and midpoint on the symphyseal face; arcuate eminence; ischiopubic ramus; posterosuperior and anterosuperior points on the acetabular rim. The first and second PCs of the 17‐landmark configuration correctly predicted sex in 98.5% of cases; better than a 32‐landmark configuration (96%) and better than previous landmark studies on whole coxal bone sex‐based shape. Conclusions These 17 landmarks represent more meaningful data for sex‐based shape analysis in PC1 and 2 and concentrate meaningful sex‐based shape data to the first five PCs that make up over 50% of the total shape variance.