This document discusses several methods for determining the sex of individuals, both living and deceased. It outlines that sex determination is important for identification, inheritance, marriage/divorce, and legal cases. Common methods include examining general appearance, secondary sex characteristics, gonads, nuclear structures like Barr bodies and Davidson bodies, and skeletal features after decomposition. Intersex conditions that involve mixed male and female characteristics are also discussed. Determining sex can be done by examining external genitalia, gonads, menstruation history, and skeletal features such as the pelvis.

1. DETERMIINATION
OF
SEX

2. DETERMINATION OF SEX
 The need of detection of sex arises in
cases of
1. Identification in dead esp. in cases of
mutilated bodies
2. Inheritance
3. Marriage/divorce
4. Sexual offences
5. Rights & duties preserved to one sex

3. METHODS OF DETERMINATION
OF SEX
 Sex is determined by following methods:-
1. GENERAL APPEARANCE
2. SEC. SEX CHARACTERS
3. GONADAL TEST
4. NUCLEAR SEXING
5. BONES esp. in MUTILATED BODIES

4. METHODS OF DETERMINATION
OF SEX
1. GENERAL APPEARANCE:
A. FACIAL APPEARANCE
B. BODY HABITUS
C. BODY HAIR
D. CLOTHING
By observing the above mentioned features we can
take it as presumptive evidence because there
are males of feminine type and there are females
of masculine type.

5. METHODS OF DETERMINATION
OF SEX
2. SECONDARY SEX CHARACTERS:
This is highly probable evidence of sex and
in this aspect we observe the possession of
external characters like
I. Development of breast
II. Development of vagina
III. Distribution of hair
IV. Presence of male or female genitalia

6. METHODS OF DETERMINATION
OF SEX
3. GONADAL TEST:
This includes the presence of:
 OVARIES IN CASES OF FEMALES
 TESTICLES IN CASES OF MALES

7. METHODS OF DETERMINATION
OF SEX
4. NUCLEAR SEXING:
1. DAVIDSON BODIES-
Davidson in 1945 discovered the solitary nuclear appendage
of WBC in females.
the %age is 6 in 227 neutrophils. Age has no influence on the
%age.
Davidson bodies are drumstick structures with dense
chromatin head 5u in diameter
2. BARR BODIES-
These are present in cells e.g. skin, cartilage, muscle,
amniotic fluid and buccal mucosal cells. These are minute
condensations of nuclear membrane. The size is 1.2x0.7u. As
these are found in both the sexes so sex determination is
done by their %age. In cases of females 40% or more of cells
shows BARR BODIES and they are called chromatin positive.
In cases of males they are present in 10 % or less of cells and
we label them chromatin negative

8. METHODS OF DETERMINATION
OF SEX
 INTERSEX STATES:
These are conditions in which male and female
character e.g. Gonads, physical form and
sexual behavior coexists in varying proportions
in the same individual. These are divided in in
to four groups
1. Gonadal agenesis
2. Gonadal dysgenesis
3. True hermaphrodite
4. Pseudo hermaphrodite

9. METHODS OF DETERMINATION
OF SEX
Variation from distinctly male and female sex in early stage of
foetal life by defective development results in TRUE
HERMAPHRODITE. [ development of both male & female
gonads in the same individual] e.g
a. Turner Syndrome XO short stature, sexual infantilism,
congenital anomalies
b. Klinefelter’s Syndrome -XXY—small testes, gynecomastia
c. True hermaphrodite-external & internal genitalia may consist
of both sexes.
d. Pseudo hermaphrodite-there is lack of clear cut differentiation
of external genitalia while internal genitalia are iso-sexual.

10. METHODS OF DETERMINATION
OF SEX
 TEST OF SEX IN ADULTS:
A. Possession of testis & emission of semen in
males
B. Possession of ovaries with periodic
menstruation in cases of females
C. Local examination regarding external
genitalia
D. Gonadal test

11. EXAMINATION OF BONESEXAMINATION OF BONES
 In decomposed bodies the sex determination isIn decomposed bodies the sex determination is
a problem. In early stages of putrefaction thea problem. In early stages of putrefaction the
non-gravid uterus & prostate, because of theirnon-gravid uterus & prostate, because of their
higher fibro-muscular content are helpful in sexhigher fibro-muscular content are helpful in sex
determination as they are last to putrefy. Indetermination as they are last to putrefy. In
decomposed bodies, examination of bonesdecomposed bodies, examination of bones
provides the best guide. Sexual differences atprovides the best guide. Sexual differences at
puberty are marked in pelvic bones; skull;puberty are marked in pelvic bones; skull;
sternum; long bones; mandible. Pelvic bonessternum; long bones; mandible. Pelvic bones
are helpful even in infancy.are helpful even in infancy.

13. METHODS OF EXAMINATIONMETHODS OF EXAMINATION
1.1. SUBJECTIVESUBJECTIVE
2.2. OBJECTIVEOBJECTIVE

14. SUBJECTIVE METHODSUBJECTIVE METHOD
 Examination is done by studying theExamination is done by studying the
morphological features of the bone asmorphological features of the bone as
follows:follows:
 General FeaturesGeneral Features-male bones are rough &-male bones are rough &
rigid having prominent muscular ridges, thickrigid having prominent muscular ridges, thick
in consistency, large & prominent.in consistency, large & prominent.
 Special FeaturesSpecial Features-these are as follows;-these are as follows;