Craniometric Analysis of Foramen Magnum for Estimation of Sex
Human skull is shown to exhibit numerous sexually dimorphic traits. Estimation of sex is a challenging task especially when a part of skull is brought for medicolegal investigation. The present research was planned to evaluate the sexing potential of the dimensions of foramen magnum in forensic identification by craniometric analysis. Length and breadth of the foramen magnum was measured using Vernier calipers and the area of foramen magnum was calculated. The length, breadth, and area of foramen magnum were found to be larger in males than females. Sexual dimorphism index was calculated to estimate the sexing potential of each variable. The study observations are suggestive of the limited utility of the craniometric analysis of foramen magnum during the examination of skull and its parts in estimation of sex.
<p>[1] Krogman WM, Iscan MY. The human skeleton in forensic medicine,
2nd ed. Springfield Illinois: Charles Thomas Publisher,1986;189–243.
[2] Giles E, Elliot O. Sex determination by discriminant function analysis
of crania. Am J Phys Anthropol 1963;21:53–68.
[3] Franklin D, Freedman L, Milne N. Sexual dimorphism and discriminant
function sexing in indigenous South African crania. Homo
2005;55:213–228.
[4] Francesquini Júnior L, Francesquini MA, De La Cruz BM, Pereira SD,
Ambrosano GM, Barbosa CM, Daruge Júnior E, Del Bel Cury AA,
Daruge E. Identification of sex using cranial base measurements. J
Forensic Odontostomatol 2007;25:7-11.
[5] Saini V, Srivastava R, Rai RK, Shamal SN, Singh TB, Tripathi SK. An
Osteometric Study of Northern Indian Populations for Sexual
Dimorphism in Craniofacial Region. J Forensic Sci 2011;56(3):700-5.
[6] Gapert R, Black S, Last J. Sex determination from the foramen
magnum: discriminant function analysis in an eighteenth and nineteenth
century British sample. Int J Legal Med 2009;123:25–33.
[7] Radinsky L. Relative brain size e a new measure. Science
1967;155:836-8.
[8] Teixeria WR. Sex identification utilizing the size of Foramen Magnum.
Am J Forensic Med pathol 1983;3:203-206.
[9] Gruber P, Henneberg M, Böni T, Rühli FJ. Variability of human
foramen magnum size. Anat Rec (Hoboken). 2009;292:1713-9.
[10] Günay Y, Altinkök M. The value of the size of foramen magnum in sex
determination. J Clin Forensic Med. 2000;7:147-9.
[11] Selma URM, Gokharman D, Kacar M, Tuncbielek I, Kosar U.
Estimation of Sex by 3D CT Measurements of the Foramen magnum. J
Forensic Sci 2005;50:1310–1314.
[12] Routal RR, Pal GP, Bhagawat SS, Tamankar BP. Metrical studies with
sexual dimorphism in foramen magnum of human crania. J Anat Soc
India 1984;33:85–89.
[13] Sayee R, Janakiram S, Thomas IM. Foramen magnum measurements of
Crania from Karnataka. J. Anat Soc India 1987;36:87–89.
[14] Deshmukh AG, Devershi DB. Comparison of Cranial Sex
Determination by Univariate and Multivariate Analysis. J Anat Soc
India 2006;55:48–51.
[15] Raghavendra Babu YP, Kanchan T, Attiku Y, Dixit PN, Kotian MS.
Sex estimation from foramen magnum dimensions in an Indian
population. J Forensic Leg Med 2012;19(3):162-7.</p>
<p>[1] Krogman WM, Iscan MY. The human skeleton in forensic medicine,
2nd ed. Springfield Illinois: Charles Thomas Publisher,1986;189–243.
[2] Giles E, Elliot O. Sex determination by discriminant function analysis
of crania. Am J Phys Anthropol 1963;21:53–68.
[3] Franklin D, Freedman L, Milne N. Sexual dimorphism and discriminant
function sexing in indigenous South African crania. Homo
2005;55:213–228.
[4] Francesquini Júnior L, Francesquini MA, De La Cruz BM, Pereira SD,
Ambrosano GM, Barbosa CM, Daruge Júnior E, Del Bel Cury AA,
Daruge E. Identification of sex using cranial base measurements. J
Forensic Odontostomatol 2007;25:7-11.
[5] Saini V, Srivastava R, Rai RK, Shamal SN, Singh TB, Tripathi SK. An
Osteometric Study of Northern Indian Populations for Sexual
Dimorphism in Craniofacial Region. J Forensic Sci 2011;56(3):700-5.
[6] Gapert R, Black S, Last J. Sex determination from the foramen
magnum: discriminant function analysis in an eighteenth and nineteenth
century British sample. Int J Legal Med 2009;123:25–33.
[7] Radinsky L. Relative brain size e a new measure. Science
1967;155:836-8.
[8] Teixeria WR. Sex identification utilizing the size of Foramen Magnum.
Am J Forensic Med pathol 1983;3:203-206.
[9] Gruber P, Henneberg M, Böni T, Rühli FJ. Variability of human
foramen magnum size. Anat Rec (Hoboken). 2009;292:1713-9.
[10] Günay Y, Altinkök M. The value of the size of foramen magnum in sex
determination. J Clin Forensic Med. 2000;7:147-9.
[11] Selma URM, Gokharman D, Kacar M, Tuncbielek I, Kosar U.
Estimation of Sex by 3D CT Measurements of the Foramen magnum. J
Forensic Sci 2005;50:1310–1314.
[12] Routal RR, Pal GP, Bhagawat SS, Tamankar BP. Metrical studies with
sexual dimorphism in foramen magnum of human crania. J Anat Soc
India 1984;33:85–89.
[13] Sayee R, Janakiram S, Thomas IM. Foramen magnum measurements of
Crania from Karnataka. J. Anat Soc India 1987;36:87–89.
[14] Deshmukh AG, Devershi DB. Comparison of Cranial Sex
Determination by Univariate and Multivariate Analysis. J Anat Soc
India 2006;55:48–51.
[15] Raghavendra Babu YP, Kanchan T, Attiku Y, Dixit PN, Kotian MS.
Sex estimation from foramen magnum dimensions in an Indian
population. J Forensic Leg Med 2012;19(3):162-7.</p>
@article{"International Journal of Medical, Medicine and Health Sciences:58506", author = "Tanuj Kanchan and Anadi Gupta and Kewal Krishan", title = "Craniometric Analysis of Foramen Magnum for Estimation of Sex", abstract = "Human skull is shown to exhibit numerous sexually dimorphic traits. Estimation of sex is a challenging task especially when a part of skull is brought for medicolegal investigation. The present research was planned to evaluate the sexing potential of the dimensions of foramen magnum in forensic identification by craniometric analysis. Length and breadth of the foramen magnum was measured using Vernier calipers and the area of foramen magnum was calculated. The length, breadth, and area of foramen magnum were found to be larger in males than females. Sexual dimorphism index was calculated to estimate the sexing potential of each variable. The study observations are suggestive of the limited utility of the craniometric analysis of foramen magnum during the examination of skull and its parts in estimation of sex.
", keywords = "Forensic Anthropology, Skeletal remains,
Identification, Sex estimation, Foramen magnum.", volume = "7", number = "7", pages = "387-3", }
