Craniometric Analysis of the Foramen Magnum for Gender Determination in Bosnian Human Skulls

Abstract

The human skull shows certain morphological differences between male and female that can be used in the sex determination of skeletal remains. One of these differences is in the size and shape of the foramen magnum, which is important for sex determination especially in burned cadavers because the area around the foramen magnum is covered by a greater amount of soft tissue which protects bones. The aims of this study were to determine the prediction of sex determination based on craniometric analysis of foramen magnum of the human skulls. Material and method: The research was conducted on 100 human degreased and macerated adult skulls of known sex and known age (50 male skulls, 50 female skulls) selected by randomization of 211 human skulls (139 male and 72 female skulls) belonging to the Osteological Collection of the Department of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, University of Sarajevo. For analysis of the size of foramen magnum we used the craniometric method where we measured two linear diameters of foramen magnum and where we calculated the area of foramen magnum using two formulas published by Radinsky and Teixeira which are based on the sagittal and transverse diameter. Results: ROC curve revealed that the predictability of sagittal diameter of foramen magnum in sex determination of skull was 73%, the predictability of transverse diameter of foramen magnum in sex determination of skull was 65.3%, and the predictability of area of foramen magnum in sex determination of skull was 70.9% when this area is calculated using Radinsky formula, and 71.2% when this area is calculated using Teixeira formula. Conclusion: All diameters of the foramen magnum and area of the foramen magnum showed sexual dimorphism. Sagittal diameter showed the hightest effect for gender determination (73%), followed by area (FM ≈ 71%) and the least effect was shown by transverse diameter with 65.3% accuracy.