Ventral Arc Orientation
For assessment of the ventral arc, the ventral surface of the pubic bone should be perpendicular to the viewer and the superior pubic ramus should be aligned horizontally or straight. For this trait, the area lateral to the symphyseal face should be assessed.
Trait Scoring
Character states for the VA (from left to right: Score 1 to Score 5)
Ventral surface of pubic bone is showing with the superior pubic ramus aligned horizontally
Left innominate, medial side on left
Ventral surface of pubic bone is showing with the superior pubic ramus aligned horizontally
Left innominate, medial side on left
Score 1
Arc present at approximately a 45˚ angle in relation to the symphyseal face with a large triangular portion of bone inferiorly placed to arc
Arc present at approximately a 45˚ angle in relation to the symphyseal face with a large triangular portion of bone inferiorly placed to arc
Score 2
Arc present at approximately a 25-40˚ angle in relation to the symphyseal face with a small triangular portion of bone inferiorly placed to arc
Arc present at approximately a 25-40˚ angle in relation to the symphyseal face with a small triangular portion of bone inferiorly placed to arc
Score 3
Arc present at a slight angle (less than 25˚) to the symphyseal face with a slight, non triangular portion of bone inferiorly placed to arc
Arc present at a slight angle (less than 25˚) to the symphyseal face with a slight, non triangular portion of bone inferiorly placed to arc
Score 4
Arc present approximately parallel to the symphyseal face with hardly any additional bone present inferior to arc
Arc present approximately parallel to the symphyseal face with hardly any additional bone present inferior to arc
Score 5
No arc present (therefore, no additional bone present inferior to the arc)
No arc present (therefore, no additional bone present inferior to the arc)