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Indian Journal of Anatomy

Volume  7, Issue 4, July - August 2018, Pages 381-385
 

Original Article

Morphometric Study of Foramen Magnum to Determine the Sex of Skull in Karnataka Population

Santosh Kumar Mulage1, Ravi Shankar G.2, Sunil Kadam3

1 Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalaburagi, Karnataka 585101, India. 2 Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences, Raichur, Karnataka 584102, India. 3 Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, SS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Davangere, Karnataka 577005, India.

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21088/ija.2320.0022.7418.4

Abstract

Content: Foramen magnum is a big foramen found at the base of skull in posterior cranial fossa, it transmits vital structures like spinal cord, vertebral artery. This foramen belongs to occipital bone. The basal region of occipital bone is covered by a large volume of soft tissue and is, therefore, in a relatively well protected anatomical position and as such, classification of sex using occipital bone may prove useful in cases of significantly disrupted remains of skeleton. Aim: To study the dimensions of foramen magnum and determine the sex of skulls. Materials and Methods: A sample of 100 dry adult human skulls (50 known male and 50 known female) available from the department of Anatomy in RIMS, Raichur and GIMS, Gulbaraga were taken TD, LD of foramen magnum of this skulls were measured with help of vernier’s calipers, area of foramen was calculated with the help of formula. Results: The longitudinal diameter, transverse diameter and area of Foramen magnum were significantly higher in male skulls than in female skull. Conclusion: The observation and results of present study demonstrate significant sexual dimorphism in the dimensions of foramen Magnum of the Karnataka population. Hence, dimensions of foramen magnum help forensic investigator and an anthropologist to determine the sex of disrupted remains of skeleton.


Keywords : Occipital Bone; Foramen Magnum; Longitudinal Diameter; Transverse Diameter and Sexual Dimorphism.
Corresponding Author : Ravi Shankar Gadagi, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences, Raichur, Karnataka 584102, India