MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF HUMAN OCCIPITAL CONDYLES FOR SEX DETERMINATION IN DRY ADULT SKULLS

Abstract

Int J Anat Res 2017, 5(1):3318-23. ISSN 2321-4287 3318 Original Research Article MORPHOMETRIC ANAL Y SIS OF HUMAN O CCIPIT AL C OND YLE S F OR SEX DETERMINA TION IN DR Y ADUL T SK ULLS Varsha. T. Sholapurkar * 1 , R.D.Virupaxi 2 , S.P. Desai 3 . ABSTRACT Address for Correspondence: Dr. Varsha. T. Sholapurkar, Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Rural Medical College, PIMS, Loni, Maharashtra, India. E-Mail: varsh212@gmail.com Introduction: Cranium is an excellent indicator for sexual dimorphism by morphometric and morphological analysis. The basi-cranium is protected by a large soft tissue mass comprising of muscles, tendons and ligamen ts. So in case of fragmentary human remains where no other skeletal remains are preserved the intact occ ipital region may prove useful for determining the gender. Hence this study was carried out to analyse morp hometrically the occipital condyles for sex determination in dry adult skulls. Material and methods: This study was conducted on 200 occipital condyles of 100 dry adult human skulls (50 male & 50 female). Morphological variants in the shape of occipital condyles were noted. The antero-posterior diameter, transverse diameter and the occipital condyle index of right and left occipital condyles w ere measured using standard techniques. Students ‘t’ test was employed for statistical analysis. Results: The commonest shape of right and left occipital condyles was oval. The antero-posterior diameter and the occipital condyle index (right and left) in male skulls was higher than the female skulls. There was no significant difference in the transverse diameter of occipital condyles (right and left) in male and female skulls. Conclusion: The metric analysis of occipital condyles may be a useful indicator of sex determination of an unknown skull, especially in fragmentary human remains, where no other skeletal remains are preserve d.