Original Research Article
Year: 2014 | Month: January | Volume: 4 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 155-159
Sex Determination by Using Mandibular Ramus Posterior Flexure – A Prospective Study
S. Shivaprakash1, A.G.Vijaykumar2*
11Assistant professor, Dept of Anatomy, Travancore Medical College, Kollam, Kerala, India.
22Assistant professor, Dept of Forensic Medicine, Adhichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, B G Nagar, Karnataka, India.
*Corresponding Author: A.G.Vijaykumar
ABSTRACT
Introduction- The four main features of biological identity are sex, age, stature and ethnic background. The identification of human skeletal remains is considered an initial step in forensic investigations and is crucial for further analysis.
Objective - Determination of sex by using mandibular ramus posterior flexure.
Materials and methods - The study was conducted on 104 adult mandibles, which were obtained from the mandibles available in the department of anatomy, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore and from the students of 1st year MBBS.
Results - Using Mandibular ramus posterior flexure, out of 104 mandibles, we could determined the morphological sex in 79 mandibles with 76% accuracy rate and sex was misclassified in 25 mandibles. In the present study, overall predictive of accuracy of (76%) was attained in diagnosing the sex by observing the mandibular ramus posterior flexure. Out of 55 male mandibles, sex was accurately determined in 44 cases with accuracy rate of 80% and out of 49 female mandibles, sex was accurately determined in 35 cases with accuracy rate of 71%.
Conclusion - Consequently, the identification of sexual dimorphism still relies almost exclusively upon as many dimorphic skeletal morphological features as possible. Therefore, the mandibular ramus flexure must be considered for anthropological and forensic purposes as one additional feature among the many parameters used in sex assessment of any skeletal series.
Key words: mandible, sex, mandibular ramus posterior flexure.