Sexual Dimorphism Based on Morphological Features of the Skull: A Forensic Odontological Review

Abstract Sexual dimorphism, which refers to the structural differences between male and female skeletons, plays a crucial role in narrowing down the identity of the deceased by highlighting gender-specific anatomical traits. Determining the gender of an unidentified human skeleton plays a crucial role in the field of forensic odontology. While DNA analysis is considered the most accurate technique for individual identification, it is often time-consuming and requires specialized equipment. As an alternative, examining skeletal features provides a relatively quick and practical approach to gender identification, especially in forensic scenarios where time and resources may be limited. Various methods used for gender determination are visual or clinical method and microscopic and advanced methods. Sex determination from craniofacial morphology and dimensions involves a constellation of six traits, mastoid, supraorbital ridge, size and architecture of skull, zygomatic extensions, nasal aperture, and mandible gonial angle, and it was observed that the determination of sex using only these six traits shows an accuracy of 94%. Hence, this review aims to understand various morphometric features of the skull that can serve as reliable indicators for determining sex when other skeletal markers are unavailable or damaged. While not definitive on their own, these parameters can serve as useful indicators when combined with other skeletal traits in forensic and anthropological investigations. These characteristics can therefore be utilized as supplementary indicators in forensic identification for distinguishing between male and female skeletal remains. It also highlights the importance of population-specific validation and emphasizes that diagnostic reliability can vary based on age, ethnicity, and imaging modality.