Abstract
The mastoid process is a conical projection from the undersurface of the temporal bone. Examination of skeletal remains by anthropologists requires sex determination. The present study proposes to determine sex from morphometry of the mastoid process. The study was conducted on 300 dried skulls with the help of a digital vernier caliper. Discriminant functional analysis was performed. The parameters measured were the mastoid triangle, which is formed by specific points the porion, mastoidale, and asterion, and the linear distances between them. All parameters were higher in male skulls with a high level of significance. The area of the mastoid triangle proved to be the best parameter for sex discrimination.
Highlights
The mastoid process is a conical projection lying in the posterior region of the temporal bone
The three craniometric points were identified in dry skulls, the porion (Po), which is the superior-most point of the external acoustic meatus, the mastoidale (Ma), which is the inferior-most point of the mastoid process, and the asterion (As), which is the meeting point of the three posterior skull sutures, i.e., lambdoid, occipitomastoid, and parietomastoid
I.e., the porion-mastoidale, mastoidale-asterion, asterion-porion distance, and the area of the mastoid triangle proved to have a higher value in males as compared to females and the differences were statistically significant for all these parameters
Summary
The mastoid process is a conical projection lying in the posterior region of the temporal bone. The temporal bone is a paired cranial bone that has four parts: squamous part, tympanic part, styloid process, and petromastoid part. Petaros et al [1] and Kruger et al [2] stated that the mastoid process is one of the most sexually dimorphic features in the human skull and is, often used to identify the sex of skeletons. A major role in the gender identification of skeletal remains may be played by morphometric osteological criteria and lays the foundation for full identification. Individual parts of the skull like the mastoid process are being analyzed for sex determination due to their anatomically advantageous placement in the skull
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