Morphometric analysis of the foramen magnum in sex estimation: An additional 3DCT study from Nepal on a larger sample

Abstract

Background: Estimation of sex of the skeletal remains plays a vital part in the identification of an individual. This study is focused on the morphometric measurements of the foramen magnum region and examining the accuracy of sexual dimorphism in the Nepalese population. Methods: Measurements were obtained from 3D computed tomography (CT) scan of 261 Nepalese adult cranial bases with known age and sex. Length and breadth of the foramen magnum, length and breadth of right and left occipital condyles and maximum and minimum intercondylar distance were measured on the base of the skull CT images. Results: The mean values for all parameters were higher in males than females except for the maximum intercondylar distance. Sex prediction done with discriminant function analysis could classify the skull with an overall accuracy of 70.5%–71%. Conclusions: It can be concluded from the results that the morphometric study of the foramen magnum is less reliable for sex estimation in the Nepalese population.