Identification: sexing the femur: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Forensic Medicine · Identification: sexing the femur

Sample item

Skeletal remains from an excavation include a complete right femur with a vertical diameter of the head measuring 50 mm. By standard osteometric criteria, the bone most likely belongs to a:

APerson whose sex cannot be inferred, as only the pelvis has any sexing valueBMale, since a vertical head diameter above about 48 mm favours male sexCFemale, since values above 48 mm indicate female sexDFemale, since a larger femoral head accommodates the wider female pelvis

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Male, since a vertical head diameter above about 48 mm favours male sex

The vertical diameter of the femoral head is a widely used long-bone measurement for sexing: above about 48 mm is male and below about 43 mm is female, with values between as indeterminate. A single bone is less reliable than the pelvis or skull but still informative.

Option by option

A. Person whose sex cannot be inferred, as only the pelvis has any sexing value
Long bones do provide supportive sexing information although the pelvis is best.
B. Male, since a vertical head diameter above about 48 mm favours male sex (correct)
Correct. Fifty millimetres exceeds the male threshold.
C. Female, since values above 48 mm indicate female sex
The female range is below about 43 mm, not above 48 mm.
D. Female, since a larger femoral head accommodates the wider female pelvis
Female heads are smaller, and the pelvic width does not enlarge the femoral head.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is B, Male, since a vertical head diameter above about 48 mm favours male sex. The vertical diameter of the femoral head is a widely used long-bone measurement for sexing: above about 48 mm is male and below about 43 mm is female, with values between as indeterminate.

Why is "Person whose sex cannot be inferred, as only the pelvis has any sexin…" not the answer?

Long bones do provide supportive sexing information although the pelvis is best.

Why is "Female, since values above 48 mm indicate female sex" not the answer?

The female range is below about 43 mm, not above 48 mm.

Why is "Female, since a larger femoral head accommodates the wider female pel…" not the answer?

Female heads are smaller, and the pelvic width does not enlarge the femoral head.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Identification: sexing the femur in Forensic Medicine. A single bone is less reliable than the pelvis or skull but still informative.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Identification: sexing the femur?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.