Sex Determination of Dry Human Mandible Using Metrical Parameters in Mahakaushal Region of Madhya Pradesh, India: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Determination of sex and age from skeletal remains is not only important for forensic science but also for Anatomy, Forensic Odontology, Anthropology and Palaeontology examination. Mandible next to the pelvis in human remains help us in the identification of age, sex, and race. Aim: To determine sex by using metrical parameters in dry human mandible. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study contained 104 dry human mandibles of undetermined age and unknown sex (as they were not recorded at the time of acquisition) belonging to the Indian population was obtained from NSCB Medical College, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India. All adult (mandible with presence of bilateral molar teeth; prominent alveolar sockets; intact condylar and coronoid processes; welldeveloped bone), intact and well-formed mandible were taken and broken, deformed, pathological bones were excluded. Statistically analysed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows, version 16.0. Results: Out of the 13 parameters studied statistically highly significant difference in sex was observed in bicondylar breadth, bigonial breadth, coronoid breadth, angle of mandible, mandibular length, diagonal length and coronoid height, length of lower jaw. Conclusion: The present study utilises the 13 different metrical parameters. The application of these 13 metrical parameters along with morphological features could be a useful tool for sex determination of the mandible.

Keywords

• bicondylar breadth
• determination of sex
• mandibular length