Open AccessMandibular ramus: An indicator for sex determination - A digital radiographic study
Author(s) -
Annamalai Ponnuswamy Indira,
Archana Markande,
Maria Priscilla David
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of forensic dental sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 0975-2137
pISSN - 0975-1475
DOI - 10.4103/0975-1475.109885
Subject(s) - mandibular ramus , discriminant function analysis , sexual dimorphism , skull , radiography , dentistry , medicine , orthodontics , mandible (arthropod mouthpart) , molar , anatomy , biology , mathematics , surgery , statistics , botany , genus
The identification of skeletal remains is of paramount importance in medico-legal investigations. The skeletal components most often investigated for gender determination are the pelvis and skull, with the mandible being a practical element to analyze sexual dimorphism in the fragmented bones. Presence of a dense layer of compact bone makes it very durable and well preserved than many other bones. Mandibular ramus can be used to differentiate between sexes and it also expresses strong univariate sexual dimorphism. When skeleton sex determination is considered, metric analyses on the radiographs are often found to be of superior value owing to their objectivity, accuracy, and reproducibility.