A study on gender identification of dry skull by manual measurement of foramen magnum dimensions

As per Krogman, the reliability of determining sex of a person from the skull is up to 92%. The main objective of the present study was to aid in increasing this percentage value. In instances like mass disasters, even a small piece of base of a skull having foramen magnum can aid in determining sex. Further research in relation to the role of foramen magnum dimensions in gender identification was thus felt needed. The present study was conducted on dry skulls from teaching collection of the Anatomy department at Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre. It was concluded that foramen magnums with length more than 3.6cms belonged to dry skulls with male features and those less than 3.5cms belonged to ones with female features. The ones with breadth more than 3.12cms belonged to males and those less than 3.08cms belonged to females. Foramen magnums with foramen magnum index more than 89.2% belonged to females and those less than 84.3% belonged to males.