Osteometric Study of the Femur Among Identified Skeletal Remains at the National Museum Jos, Plateau State

The femur is the longest and strongest bone in the human body and serves as a reliable basis for biological profile estimation in forensic and palaeontological investigations. Femoral osteometric data, including maximum length, head diameter, bicondylar breadth, and midshaft circumference, are used to estimate sex, stature, and ancestry from skeletal remains. Most femoral regression equations used in Nigeria are derived from non-Nigerian populations, potentially compromising the accuracy of such forensic assessments. This study aims to conduct an osteometric analysis of the femur using identified skeletal remains accessioned at the National Museum Jos, Plateau State, North Central Nigeria. Each femur will be measured using osteometric boards and Vernier callipers, and data will be statistically analysed to derive population-specific discriminant function equations for sex determination. Stature estimation equations will also be generated and validated against known stature records where available. The expected contribution of this study is a set of forensic reference equations for the Jos Plateau population, addressing a critical gap in regional forensic anthropology data.

Keywords: femur osteometry, forensic anthropology, sex determination, skeletal remains, Jos