IJAR.2017.274
Type of Article: Original Research
Volume 5; Issue 3.1 (July 2017)
Page No.: 4163-4167
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar.2017.274
STUDY ON THE MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE FORAMEN MAGNUM AS AN INDICATOR FOR SEX DETERMINATION
P Devadas 1, M Janardhan Rao *2, M Yesender 2, B H Shiny Vinila 3.
1 Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences, Narketpally, Telangana, India.
*2 Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, Kamineni academy of medical sciences and research centre, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
3 Senior Lecturer, Department of Anatomy, Panineeya Mahavidyalaya Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Center, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
Corresponding author: Dr. M Janardhan Rao, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, Kamineni Academy of Medical Sciences, L B Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Contact number: 09030504816 E-Mail: drmjr.kams@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Foramen Magnum is the largest foramen in the base of the skull which gives passage to vital structures such as medulla oblongata continues as spinal cord along with meninges, spinal arteries, vertebral arteries and spinal accessory nerve. The present study was carried out to determine the sex of the skull based on the morphometric analysis of foramen magnum.
Materials and Methods: The present study was carried out on 100 dry adult human skulls of which 57 were male and 43 female. The anteroposterior diameter and the transverse diameters of foramen magnum were measured with a vernier caliper and the readings were recorded for all male and female skulls separately. The index of the foramen magnum, the circumference of the foramen magnum & surface area of the foramen magnum were calculated.
Results: The incidence of oval, round, tetragonal and pentagonal shapes of foramen magnum was 45%, 29%, 14%, and 12% respectively. The average anteroposterior diameter was 36.7mm in males and 32.1mm in females. The average transverse diameter was 29.7mm in males and 26.1mm in females. Statistically, a significant difference was observed between male and female skulls.
Conclusion: With the results of the present study the Foramen Magnum can also be considered along with the other parameters of the skull for sex determination of the human skulls in forensic analysis of medico-legal cases or in anthropological studies.
Key words: Morphometry, Skull Base, Foramen Magnum, Sex Determination, Forensic Analysis.
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