SEXUAL DIMORPHISM OF SCAPULA BY VISUAL METHODS Sameer Sathe * 1 , Vivek Sathe 2 , Rashmi Sathe 3 . 1  Associate professor, Anatomy, People’s Medical College, Bhopal, India. *2  Professor and Head, Dept. of Anatomy, Nepalese army institute of Health Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal. 3  MDS (Oral Medicine & Radiology). Private Practitioner. Correspondence Address:   Dr. Sameer Sathe, Associate professor, Anatomy, People’s Medical College, Bhopal, India. E-Mail: ansh251103@yahoo.co.in ABSTRACT: Introduction:    Scapula   presents   various   features   and   dimensions   and   it   is   one   of   the   most   interesting   bones   of   the   human   body.   The   present   study   was done for sexual dimorphism of scapula by visual methods. Materials   and   Methods:    The      study   was   carried   out   in   the   Department   of   Anatomy   PCMS   &   RC   Bhopal.136   scapulae   were   observed   out   of   which   96   were males   and   40   were   female   scapulae.   The   following   morphological   features   were   taken   into   account   for   sexing   the   bone.   Suprascapular   notch,   Superior border of Scapula and Acromial morphology. The results obtained were tabulated and compared with previous studies. Observations   and   Results:    The   Type   I   (45.0%)   &   Type   II(30.0%)   Suprascapular   notches   were   most   commonly   seen   in   females,   while   in   Males   Type   III   notch was   more   frequently   observed   (35.41%)   than   Type   I   &   II.   Type   II   superior   border   was   more   frequent   in   males   (54   males   56.25%)   and   females   (22   females 55.0%).  Quadrangular type of acromion was more frequently found in both sexes followed by Falciform type in males and Triangular type in females. Conclusion:    Type   III   Suprascapular   notch   was   more   common   in   males   while   Type   I   was   more   frequent   in   females.   Type   II   superior   border   was   found   with equal   frequency   in   both   males   and   females.   Quadrangular   type   of   acromion   was   more   commonly   seen   to   be   associated   with   both   the   sexes.   Thus   present visual features have their limitations while determining the sex of the bone. Scapula “The Shoulder Blade” requires further more study in this regards. KEY WORDS: Scapula, Suprascapular Notch, Superior Border, Sexual Dimorphism. References 1 . Hooton EA. up from the Ape. Macmillan Co., New York. 1946. 2 . Vallois H V. Variations de l’echanerure corcoidienne de l’omoplate. Ann. Anat. Path Etc. 1926;111-113. 3 . Hrdlicka A. The Scapula : Visual observation.Amer.J.Phys.Anthrop. 1942a;29:73-94. 4 . Gray D. J. Variations in human scapula. Amer. J. Phys. Anthrop. 1942;29:57-72. 5 . Dongen RV. The shoulder girdle and Humerus of the Australian aborigine. Amer.J.Phys.Anthrop. 1963;21:469-488. 6 . Bainbridge D, Tarazaga S G. A study of sex differences in Scapula. J.Roy. Anthrop. Inst. 1956;86:101-134. 7 . Hrdlicka A.  The Adult Scapula.: Additional observations and measurements. Amer. J. Phys. Anthrop. 1942;29:363-415. 8 . Poirier and Charpy 1911. ref from Gray D. J. Variations in human scapula. Amer. J. Phys. Anthrop. 1942;29:57-72. 9 . Kajava Y. Scapula scaphoidae (in Finnish) Hels.12 mo, copp. 1924. 1 0 . Vallois H. La formation de l’omoplate humaine Bull. Musd’tist. Nat. Paris. 1924;65-70. 1 1 . Krogman W. Skeleton in Forensic Medicine Proc.Inst. Med., Chicago. 1946;16; 154-167. 12. Stewert TD. Sex determination of Skeleton by guess and measurements. Amer. J. Phys. Anthrop 1954;12:385-392.