Sex estimation and stature Flashcards
Describe the overall features of the female skull
Tend to be: - Smaller - Shorter - Smoother - Slighter Than the males
Apart from:
- Frontal slope –> more vertical
- Frontal and parietal tuberocities –> more marked
- Orbital outline –> sharper
- Mandibular ramus –> straighter posterior border
- Angle of the mandible –> more obtuse
What is the glabella?
The small depression between the eyebrows (smooth region of the forehead)
Where is the glabella situated?
Superior to the nasal bone
Medial to the supraorbital ridge
What is the difference between the glabellar profile between the male and female skull?
Females:
- Smooth
Males:
- Prominent
What is the frontal slope of the skull?
The slope of the forehead
What is the difference between the frontal slope between the male and female skull?
Females:
- Vertical
Males:
- Less vertical (inclined)/ more of a slope backwards
What are the frontal eminence?
One or 2 rounded elevations of the skull about 3cm above the the supraorbital margin on either side of the frontal bone
What are the parietal eminence?
Raised elevation of the skull near the centre of each parietal bone
What is the difference between the frontal and parietal eminence between the male and female skull?
Female:
- Marked
Male:
- Reduced/absent
What is the supraorbital ridge?
A prominence on the frontal bone above the eyes (orbits)
What is the difference between the supraorbital ridge between the male and female skull?
Female:
- Slight
Male:
- Prominent
What is the oribital outline?
The outline of the eye socket (oribital)
What is the difference between the orbital outline between the male and female skull?
Females:
- Circular
- SHARP edges
Males:
- Quadrangular
- ROUNDED edges
What are the temporal ridges?
4 parallel lines on either side of the skull
What is the difference between the temporal ridges between the male and female skull?
Female:
- Slight
Males:
- Marked
What are the suprameatal crests?
The ridge that forms the posterior root of the zygomatic process of the temporal bone
(Zygomatic extension)
What is the difference between the suprameatal crests between the male and female skull?
Females:
- Short
Males:
- Extends posteriorly
What is the mastoid process of the skull?
The portion of the TEMPORAL BONE of the skull that extends behind the ear
What is the difference between the mastoid process between the male and female skull?
Females:
- Small
- Bends underneath the vault (occupies the brain)
Males:
- Large
- Extends vertically
What is the nuchal area/crest of the skull?
The four curved lines on the external surface of the occipital bone
What is the difference between the nuchal area/crest between the male and female skull?
Females:
- Smooth
Males:
- Ridged
What is the external occipital protuberance?
Midline bony prominence in the occipital bone
Where the ligamentum nuchae and trapezius muscles attach to
What is the difference between the external occipital protuberance between the male and female skull?
Females:
- Small
Males:
- Large
What is the mandibular ramus?
The perpendicular extremity of the mandible on either side
Connects the body to the condylar head
What is the difference between the mandibular ramus between the male and female skull?
Females:
- Straight posterior border
Males:
- Flexed posterior border
What is the mentom?
The lowest part of the median part of the chin
What is the difference between the depth from the incisors to the mentum between the male and female skull?
Females:
- Short
Males:
- Long
What is the mental protuberance?
The body protuberance at the front of the lower jaw that forms the chin
What is the difference between the mental protuberance between the male and female skull?
Females:
- Small
- Rounded
Males:
- Large
- Projecting
What is the difference between the angle of the mandible between the male and female skull?
Females:
- Obtuse
- Smooth edged
Males:
- Acute
- Everted edge