Abstract: 100 long bones of upper limb of Chinese (males 50, females 50) are included in this study. 36 measurements were taken. Statistical analysis shows that the means of all measurements in males are larger than those in females significantly (P < 0.001). This study shows, that most of single measurement can be used to determine sex with better discriminant results. Of all 36 measurements 23 can be used as single sex discriminator with accuracy 75% or better among them 9 measurements can reach the accuracy over 80%. By using Fisher's method, 56 sex discriminant functions for bones of upper limb were calculated which can sex upper limb bones 80%-87% correctly. For the purpose of further raising discriminant rate, stepwise discriminant analysis was used to establish four stepwise discriminant functions which can determine sex with the accuracy over 90%.

Key words: Bones of upper limb; Sex determination; Discriminant analysis