Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Zawia University
The identification of unknown remains is very important. When unknown remains are found, anthropologists first determine their sex and age. The sex of most skeletons is determined by their shape. In the hyoid bone, the shape is sex related, so it can be used forensically to determine the sex few quantitative data exist on age and sex differences in hyoid morphology. This study discussed sex-based morphometric of the hyoid bone in some Libyan people using digital photographs. Hyoid bones from 18 males and 18 females were selected for digital photograph measurements while 21 male hyoid bones and another 21 female's hyoid bone were selected for radiological measurements. The specimens were selected from anatomy department of Tripoli and Zawia universities. Also some specimens are selected from department of forensic medicine of Tripoli Governate. For each specimen we took 24 measurements digital photograph (23 measurements and weight) and 24 from radiological study. The data were analyzed statistically using SPSS 11.0. Nineteen variables of 24 measurements had significant sex differences through the digital photograph measurements while 17 measurements through radiology showed significant difference between male and female hyoid bones.
Analysis of sexual dimorphism radio logically shows that the greatest length differences are in the greater cornua; this also was observed and confirmed by the results of digital photograph measurements. This study recommend selection of large number of hyoid bone to get special standard measurements for sex identification and design a computer programmed data used as a reference for identification of sex from hyoid bone as a skeletal remains.
Hyoid bone, dimorphism, anthropology, determination, strangulation
