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Indian Journal of Anatomy

Volume  7, Issue 1, Jan-Feb 2018, Pages 40-44
 

Original Article

Metric Study of Mastoid Triangle for Sexual Dimorphism

P.R. Chavan1, S.L. Sarda2, S.A. Dope3

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Government Medical College, Aurangabad, Maharashtra 431004, India. 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Shri Bhausaheb Hire Government Medical College, Dhule, Maharashtra 424001, India. 3 Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, Government Medical College, Latur, Maharashtra 413512, India.

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21088/ija.2320.0022.7118.7

Abstract

Background & Aims: The mastoid region, a fragmentary piece of skull is ideal for sex determination as it is more robust and tough making it resistant to physical damage. The mastoid bone is most protected, due to its anatomical position at the baso-lateral region of the skull. In present study, mathematical dimensions of various parts of mastoid were used by craniometric techniques to identify the sex in fragmentary remains. Material & Method: The study was performed on 132 human skulls of known sex (80 Males & 52 Females) collected from Bone Bank of Department of Anatomy at Govt. Medical College, Aurangabad and various medical colleges of Marathwada region. The measurements were taken on mastoid region of skull by defining the three craniometrical points- Asterion, Porion and Mastoidale. Distance between these three craniometrical points were located and measured in mm to calculate the area in mm2 by Heron’s formula on both right and left side of skull. Unpaired‘t’ test were used for data analysis. Total mastoid area was calculated by adding the right and left triangular areas. The total area being used as it would avoid asymmetry between the areas, so it can be used for sex determination. Results: The means of all mastoid measurements and total mastoid triangular area in males are significantly larger than those of the females (p<0.001). Result showed significant craniometric differences between male and female mastoid triangle on both right and left side of skull. Conclusion: The mastoid measurements and total mastoid triangular area provides an accurate method for sex determination in Marathwada population. Knowledge of above dimensions of mastoid process will be helpful to physical and forensic anthropologist for sexing of human skull from fragmentary skeletal remains.

 


Keywords : Craniometric Points; Mastoid Triangle; Sex Determination; Area.
Corresponding Author : S.L. Sarda, Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Shri Bhausaheb Hire Government Medical College, Dhule, Maharashtra 424001, India.