DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2016.v04i03.087

Pages: 1071-1074

The foramen magnum (FM) is an important landmark of the base of skull and is of particular interest to many fields of medicine. In literature, many authors have reported the usefulness of the FM in gender determination. The focus of this study was to evaluate the morphological differences of foramen magnum for sex determination in human individuals using computed tomography scan. Ninety five subjects (55 males, 40 females) between 20-70 years were included in the study. The most appropriate images of foramen magnum were selected for study purpose. The measurements of anteroposterior diameter and transverse diameter of foramen magnum available by the cranial CT were noted and foramen magnum index was calculated. Data was collected and compiled using Microsoft Excel Sheet (Microsoft Office 2007). Statistical analysis was done using the statistical package for the social science (SPSS 17.0) and p< 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Mean age in male and female subjects was 39.98±14.26 and 42.65±10.83 years respectively. The overall mean TD, APD and FMI was 30.25±3.14 mm, 36.20±3.19 mm and 83.72±6.63 respectively. There was significant difference in mean transverse diameter (p=0.0159) and antero-posterior diameter (p=0.0000) between male and female subjects. However, no significant difference in mean foramen magnum index in between male and female was noted (p=0.2418). In our study, the sexual dimorphism is present in the foramen magnum. Analysis of the foramen magnum diameters may be statistically useful in determining sex of the unknown skull.