1Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Chengalpattu
2Sri Ramachandra Medical College and RI, Chennai
3Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Chennai
*Corresponding Author Dr Priyadarshee Pradhan, Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute
Online published on 6 March, 2023.
Establishing the identity of a human from skeletal remains is a core part of medico-legal and anthropological works. Detailed medico-legal investigation for establishing the identity of a corpse is needed especially in cases of sudden and unexpected death, mass disaster, fire, explosion incidents, railway and aviation accident deaths, mutilated or decomposed bodies or when foul play is suspected. The cornerstone of a forensic anthropologist work is on having a complete knowledge of the growth and development of the human body so as to help in personal identification. Determination of sex can be done from many parameters such as morphology, hormonal assay, karyotyping/nuclear sexing and anthropology. Largest foramen of the skull is foramen magnum situated in the inferior portion of the cranial fossa as a part of the occipital bone. Foramen magnum is an important structure in various studies related to forensic anthropology, comparative anatomy, surgery of the foramen structures and cranio-vertebral junction. The aim of this study was to measure the area of foramen magnum and compare it between the two sexes. This observational study was conducted on 40 cases brought to the mortuary of Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research for medico-legal autopsy. The foramen magnum area was found to be more in males and the difference in area of foramen magnum is statistically significant.
