Morphometric Analysis and Sex Determination of Clavicles in Nepalese Population

Int. Jr. of Contemp. Res. in Multi. PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL Volume 4 Issue 4 [JulAug] Year 2025 685 © 2025 Rajesh Kumar Das, Gajendra Kumar Sah, Sunil Shrestha, ShyamBabu Prasad Rauniyar. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY NC ND).https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Research Article Morphometric Analysis and Sex Determination of Clavicles in Nepalese Population Rajesh Kumar Das 1*, Gajendra Kumar Sah 2, Sunil Shrestha 3, ShyamBabu Prasad Rauniyar 4 1,2,3,4 Lecturer, Department of Anatomy, National Medical College, Birgunj, Nepal Corresponding Author: Rajesh Kumar Das* DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17439257 Abstract Manuscript Information The clavicle is one of the most reliable bones for sex determination in forensic and anthropological investigations. This study aims to analyze morphometric parameters of the clavicle and establish sex determination criteria in the Nepalese population. A total of 52 clavicles, 28 male clavicles (Right-14 and Left-14) and 24 female clavicles (Right-12 and Left12) were collected from the Department of Anatomy, National Medical College & Teaching Hospital, Birgunj, Nepal. Standard measurements—including mean length of male right and left clavicles were 125.47±4.95 mm and 126.20±5.07 mm. Similarly, the length of the female right and left clavicles was 107.98±5.97 mm and 112.43±4.31 mm recorded using a Vernier caliper, and the mean mid-shaft circumference of male right and left clavicles was 36.89±4.77 mm and 37.42±4.39 mm. Similarly, the mean midshaft-circumference of female right and left clavicles was 30.43±0.18mm and 30.42±0.24 mm recorded using measuring tape. Statistical analysis was performed by using GraphPad Prism 8.4.2. to compare measurements between male and female clavicles of the right and left sides. Results are expected to show that female clavicles are significantly longer in females, but the midshaft circumference of left male clavicles is slightly more than left clavicles; similarly, female right clavicles are slightly longer than left sides, with notable bilateral variations. These findings will provide populationspecific reference data useful for forensic identification, anatomical research, and medico-legal cases in Nepal. ▪ ISSN No: 2583-7397 ▪ Received: 15-07-2025 ▪ Accepted: 29-08-2025 ▪ Published: 31-08-2025 ▪ IJCRM:4(4); 2025: 685-688 ▪ ©2025, All Rights Reserved ▪ Plagiarism Checked: Yes ▪ Peer Review Process: Yes How to Cite this Article Das RK, Sah GK, Shrestha S, Rauniyar SBP. Morphometric analysis and sex determination of clavicles in Nepalese population. Int J Contemp Res Multidiscip. 2025;4(4):685-688. Access this Article Online www.multiarticlesjournal.com KEYWORDS: Clavicle, Morphometry, Sex determination, Length, Midshaft – circumference, Nepalese population. INTRODUCTION The human clavicle is described as a modified long bone that lies horizontally in our body. It is also known as the beauty bone because its visibility is often associated with the slender appearance of females. It is part of the pectoral girdle. It has two ends, the sternal end and the acromial end, and the intervening shaft. The shaft is gently curved, resembling the letter ‘f‘with convexity forwards in its medial two-thirds and concavity forwards in its lateral one-third. 1The clavicle of males is longer and its curvatures are more pronounced than in females. In males, the acromial end is on a level with or slightly higher than the sternal end when the arm is pendent. It is the most common bone that is fractured by indirect violence due to a fall on the outstretched hand. The fracture usually takes place at the junction of the medial two-thirds and the lateral one-third. 2Determining the sex of an unknown person is an important part Int. Jr. of Contemp. Res. in Multi. PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL Volume 4 Issue 4 [JulAug] Year 2025 686 © 2025 Rajesh Kumar Das, Gajendra Kumar Sah, Sunil Shrestha, ShyamBabu Prasad Rauniyar. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY NC ND).https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ of both forensic investigations and archaeological studies when human bones are found. This makes studying the differences in bones between males and females important for anatomists, anthropologists, and forensic experts. 3For toxicologists, determining sex from the clavicle has significant medical and legal implications. It also aids anthropologists in their research on racial migration and human evolution. Additionally, this study is helpful for academic anatomy research as well as medical-legal and anthropological bone examinations. 4The left clavicle was longer than the right clavicle. Anthropologists use the clavicle to determine sex, which aids them in their research on racial migration and human evolution. 5Importance of the clavicle from the deceased's unidentified skeletal remains; therefore, it aids forensic specialists in medical-legal matters, anthropologists in their research on human evolution and racial migration, and orthopaedicians in intra-medullary nailing procedures in the event of clavicle fracture.6 The purpose of this study is to produce reliable, statistically supported results that improve Nepal's forensic and anthropometric capacities, making it a significant contribution to science and real-world applications as well as supporting academic anatomy research. MATERIAL AND METHODS 1. Maximum length in millimeters Fifty-two clavicles, 28 male clavicles (Right-14 and Left-14), and 24 female clavicles (Right-12 and Left-12) used in this study are taken from the Department of Anatomy, National Medical College & Teaching Hospital, Birgunj, Nepal. The clavicles were cleaned and dried, and the study was approved by the Institutional Review Committee (Ref. F-NMC/724/082083). The study did not include any bones that displayed any pathological or deformed clavicles. Analysis is carried out using GraphPad Prism 8.4.2. Intra-observer error is assessed by calculating the percentage difference between three sets of all measurements. A Vernier caliper was used to measure the clavicle’s length, which was the maximum straight distance between its two ends, as shown in the figure below. 2. Measurement of the Mid-shaft circumference of the clavicles: A pencil mark was made in the center of the space between the two ends of the clavicle to measure its circumference. Using a calibrated measuring tape, the circumference was measured at the midway point of the clavicle and recorded in millimeters. Two measurements were made as follows: 1. Clavicle’s length (millimetre). 2. Clavicle's diameter/midshaft-circumference (millimetre). RESULTS In the present research study, a total of 52 numbers of clavicles of both sexes were studied. The mean length of male and female right clavicle is 125.47mm and 107.98mm, and the standard deviation of male and female right clavicle is ± 4.95and ± 5.97, respectively. The mean length of male and female left clavicles is 126.20 mm and 112.85 mm, and the standard deviation of male and female left clavicles is ± 5.07 and ± 4.31, respectively. The mean diameter of male and female right clavicles is 36.89 mm and 30.43 mm, and the standard deviation of male and female right clavicles is ± 4.77 and ± 0.18, respectively. The mean diameter of male and female left clavicles is 37.44 mm and 30.42 mm, and the standard deviation of male and female left clavicles is ± 4.39 and ± 0.24, respectively. The clavicle's length and the midshaft circumference of the clavicle were measured, statistically analyzed displayed in Table A. Fig 2. Correlation of length and diameter of the clavicle between males and females. (A) The mean value of length and the diameter of the right and left clavicle of males and females represented by Mean ± SD. Int. Jr. of Contemp. Res. in Multi. PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL Volume 4 Issue 4 [JulAug] Year 2025 687 © 2025 Rajesh Kumar Das, Gajendra Kumar Sah, Sunil Shrestha, ShyamBabu Prasad Rauniyar. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY NC ND).https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (B) Graphical presentation of statistically analysed data of the length of the clavicle between males and females. (C) Graphical presentation of statistically analysed data of the diameter of the clavicle between males and females. All data were statistically analysed by using an unpaired t-test through GraphPad Prism 8.4.2. ****p<0.0001. DISCUSSION In this study, the aim is to determine the sex of unknown clavicles and to compare the right and left clavicles by Analyzing their length and mid-shaft circumference. Many authors worked on the sex determination of clavicles based on their length and mid-shaft circumference, and their results were compiled in [Tables -1 and 2]. Table 1: Comparison of mean values of the length of clavicles in different studies in mm (millimeters). Author No. of clavicles Male Female Right Left Right Left Terry RJ et al., [7] 100 (50 M, 50 F) 153.30±0.83 153.30±0.83 140.98±0.76 141.78±0.03 Oliver [8] 180 (110 M, 70 F) 154.20 155.00 137.90 138.70 Jit I et al., [9] 348 (236 M, 112 F) 145.58±8.60 147.5±9.25 130.36±9.11 129.80±1.77 Singh S et al., [10] 200 (162 M, 38 F) 141.49±8.22 144.18±8.01 125.78±7.50 125.77±8.09 Mohammad SA et al., [11] 100 (63 M, 37 F) 155.20 156.67 137.42 139.21 Samala N et al, 2019 (6) 60 (34 M, 26 F) 142.76±12.36 145.18±9.32 128.69±8.00 131.56±8.32 Singh G et al,2020 [16] 100(57M,43F) 143.28±4.67 142.84±4.67 128.37±5.86 127.52±5.96 Ishwarkumar S et al., [12] 100 (66 M, 34 F) 153.52±8.79 151.82±10.96 138.02±7.36 141.04±5.72 Panuganti PK et al, (2022) [15] 1128 (564 M,564F) 141.7±0.1 143.2±0.1 128.9±0.1 128.0±0.1 Present Study (2025) 52 (28M,24F) 125.47±4.95 126.20±5.07 107.98±5.97 112.43±4.31 Table 2: Comparison of mean values of the midshaft circumference of clavicles in different studies in mm (millimeters). Author No. of clavicles Male Female Right Left Right Left Jit I et al., 1996[9] 348 (236 1M,112 F) 37.10±2.99 36.44±3.46 30.15±2.46 30.16±2.72 Jit I et al., 1983[13] 340 (280 M, 60 F) 36.20±3.50 35.90±2.70 30.40±2.70 30.00±2.80 Kaur K et al., 1997[14] 200 (100 M, 100 F) 36.97±3.62 36.91±3.57 30.83±2.89 30.69±2.98 Samala N et al, 2019 (6) 60 (34 M, 26 F) 35.29±7.28 35.94±2.88 30.35±2.43 30.31±3.25 Singh G et al,2020 [16] 100(57M,43F) 42.83±2.19 42.14±2.01 37.67±1.82 37.22±1.42 Panuganti PK et al, (2022) [15] 1128 (564 M,564F) 38±0.0 36.5±0.0 31.4±0.0 31.4±0.0 Present Study (2025) 52 (28M,24F) 36.89±4.77 37.442±4.39 30.43±0.182 30.42±0.24 In the present study, the mean length of male right and left clavicles was 125.47±4.95mm and 126.20±5.07 mm. Similarly, the length of the female right and left clavicles was 107.98±5.97 mm and 112.43±4.31 mm. The above data is less than the mean length of male right 142.76±12.3 mm and left 145.18±9.32 mm clavicles, mean length of female right 128.69±8.00 mm and left 131.56±8.32 mm clavicles, respectively Gujarati population done by Samala N et al, 2019 6. Again, comparing the data of the present study with the mean length of male right 143.28±4.67mm and left 142.84±4.67mm clavicles, mean length of female right 128.37±5.86mm and left 127.52±5.96mm clavicles is less in the Eastern Odisha population performed by Singh G et al,2020 16. Similarly, on contrasting the present data with the mean length of male right 141.7±0.1 mm and left 143.2±0.1mm clavicles, the mean length of female right 128.9±0.1 mm and left 128.0±0.1 mm clavicles, respectively, shows less value in the south Indian population researched by Panuganti PK et al (2022) 15 In the present study, the mean mid-circumference diameter of male right and left clavicles was 36.89±4.77 mm and 37.42±4.39 mm. Similarly, the mid-circumference diameter of the male right and left clavicles was 30.43±0.18mm and 30.42±0.24 mm. The above data is more than the mean midcircumference diameter of male right 35.29±7.28mm and left 35.94±2.88mm clavicles, mean length of female right 30.35±2.43mm and left. 30.31±3.25mm clavicles respectively in the Gujarati population, done by Samala N et al, 2019 6. Again, comparing the data of the present study with the mean mid-circumference diameter of male right 42.83±2.19 mm and left 42.14±2.01 mm clavicle, mean mid-circumference diameter of female right 37.67±1.82 mm and left 37.22±1.42 mm clavicles is more in the Eastern Odisha population performed by Singh G et al,2020 16. Similarly, on contrasting the present data with the mean midcircumference diameter of male right 38±0.0 mm and left 36.5±0.0 mm clavicles, mean length of female right 31.4±0.0mm and left 31.4±0.0mm clavicles, respectively, shows less value in the south Indian population researched by Panuganti PK et al (2022) 15 While doing a comparison of the work researched by other authors regarding the mean length and mid-shaft circumference of the clavicle, it is seen that the length and mid-shaft circumference of right and left clavicles were not the same in different populations and races due to racial, genetic, and environmental factors. Therefore, the right and left clavicles Nepalese population were shorter than the above population. Int. Jr. of Contemp. Res. in Multi. PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL Volume 4 Issue 4 [JulAug] Year 2025 688 © 2025 Rajesh Kumar Das, Gajendra Kumar Sah, Sunil Shrestha, ShyamBabu Prasad Rauniyar. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY NC ND).https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ CONCLUSION From the present study, it can be concluded that the left clavicle of both sexes is consistently longer than the right clavicle, whereas the diameter of the right clavicle of both sexes is greater than the left clavicle. The determination of sex from the clavicle has a great medico-legal significance to toxicologists. It also helps anthropologists in their study of the evolution of mankind and the migration of races. The knowledge of morphometric values is helpful to anthropological and forensic practice. The Mid-shaft Circumference as a parameter of sex determination is statistically significant in differentiating the sex of the clavicle. The mean midshaft circumference of left male clavicles is slightly more than left clavicles; similarly, right female clavicles are slightly more than left sides. FUNDING INFORMATION There are no funds for this study. CONFLICT OF INTEREST The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest. REFERENCE 1. Sushmita S, Kuntal M, Sharmistha B, Hasi D. Morphometric study of the clavicle of the Eastern Indian population. Indian J Basic Appl Med Res. 2018;7(3):295307. 2. Standring S. Gray’s Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 40th ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2008. p. 791-793. 3. Kanabur V. Sex determination of human hip bone by metric analysis of the ileum. Indian J Forensic Med Pathol. 2012 Mar;5(1). 4. Kamdi A, Gayatri SA, Krishnaiah CK, Chaitanya K. Morphometric parameters and sex determination of clavicle in Telangana region. J Dent Med Sci. 2014 Oct;13:1-5. 5. Haque MK, Mansur DI, Krishnamurthy A, Karki R, Sharma K, Shakya R. 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Sexing the North Indian clavicles. J Anat Soc India. 1983;32:61-72. 14. Kaur K, Sidhu SS, Kaushal S, Kaur B. Sexing Northwest Indian adult clavicles of Patiala zone. J Anat Soc India. 1997;46(2):121-30. 15. Panuganti PK, Reddy MV, Poojari MS, Shrish P, Kumar JA. Morphometry and sexual dimorphism of the human clavicle in the South Indian population. Int J Anat Res. 2022;10(1):8283-90. 16. Singh G, Das S, Shamal S, Patra M. Gender variation of clavicle in Eastern Odisha. Int J Anat Res. 2020;8(1.3):7386-89. Creative Commons (CC) License This article is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. About the corresponding author Rajesh Kumar Das, currently working as a lecturer in the Department of Anatomy at National Medical College & Teaching Hospital, Birgunj, Nepal. He passed M.Sc. in Medical Anatomy from Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum, Karnataka, India, which is affiliated with KLE’s University, Belgaum, in 2015 A.D.