Sexual Dimorphism by Mastoid Length in Bhopal Region of Central India

As a Forensic expert we receive, examine and opine on skeletons which may be either as whole skeleton or skeletal remains. Most reliable bone for sex determination is pelvis, followed by skull. Glabella, Supraciliary arches and mastoid processes are the important morphological parameters for determination of sex. Gross subjective examination of the mastoid process has for long been used as an important landmark for differentiating male and female skulls by anthropologists and forensic experts. But craniometric studies measuring mastoid length for sexual differentiation have not been undertaken to that extent. Thus, a study was conducted to determine the significance and practical feasibility of the length of mastoid process for assessment of sex by examination of human skull. 100 male and 60 female skulls were examined for the present study. Mastoid length was found to vary between 2.22–3.87 cm (mean 3.04 cm) for males and 2.08–3.07 cm (mean 2.62 cm) for females. Z test was 9.88 (p < 0.01), indicating significant difference between male and female mastoid lengths.