Published date: Sep 26 2024

Journal Title: West Kazakhstan Medical Journal

Issue title: West Kazakhstan Medical Journal: Volume 66 Issue 3

Pages: 312–330

DOI: 10.18502/wkmj.v66i3.16448

Yogesh Ddryogeshd@gmail.comDepartment of Anatomy, Shridevi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Hospital, Sira Road, Tumakuru, Karnataka

Associate Professor,

Praveen Kumar PPraveen.anatomist@gmail.comDepartment of Anatomy, Government Medical College Mancherial, Telangana

Assistant professor

Amarendar Samarendarsura@gmail.comDepartment of Pharmacology, NAMO Medical Education and Research Institute, Silvassa, Union Territory Dadra and Nagar Haveli

Assistant professor

Swathi Priyadarshini Cswathielang84@gmail.comDepartment of Anatomy, Tagore Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Assistant professor

Ashok Kumar Jjyothiashok.anatomist@gmail.comDepartment of Anatomy, Government Medical College, Khammam, Telangana

Assistant professor

Accurate determination of sexual dimorphism in skeletal structures is crucial in forensic anthropology and medical diagnostics. This study aimed to assess sexual dimorphism in various indices of the second cervical vertebra (axis) and other associated structures. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on axis dimensions, vertebral foraminal measurements, body diameters, odontoid process parameters, and auricular facet indices in male and female subjects. A total of 122 specimens were examined, comprising 62 male and 62 female specimens. The analysis revealed significant differences between male and female subjects in various morphological indices. In terms of axial dimensions, males exhibited larger average height, length, and width of the axis compared to females, indicating sexual dimorphism. Similarly, significant differences were observed in the maximum length and width of the vertebral foramen, with males demonstrating larger measurements. Additionally, males showed larger transverse and sagittal diameters of the body compared to females. Regarding the odontoid process, males displayed greater sagittal and transverse diameters, as well as maximum height, suggesting sexual dimorphism in this aspect. Furthermore, significant differences were noted in the mean sagittal angle of the dens axis between males and females. Analysis of the superior and inferior auricular facets also indicated notable morphological variations between the sexes. The findings highlight pronounced sexual dimorphism in the morphology of the second cervical vertebra and associated structures. These results underscore the importance of considering sex-related variations in skeletal assessments for forensic and diagnostic purposes. Further research in this area can enhance the accuracy of sex determination in skeletal remains and contribute to the development of new identification methodologies.

[1] Biedermann A. The strange persistence of (source) “identification” claims in forensic literature through descriptivism, diagnosticism and machinism. Forensic Sci Int Synerg. 2022 Mar;4:100222. Available from: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2022.100222

[2] Kumar P. Recent advances in forensic odontology made easy in identification. J Oral Med Oral Surgery, Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2022;8(1):5-9. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.18231/j.jooo.2022.002

[3] Duong VA, Park JM, Lim HJ, Lee H. Proteomics in forensic analysis: Applications for human samples. Appl Sci (Basel). 2021;11(8):3393. Available from: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/app11083393

[4] Hofreiter M, Sneberger J, Pospisek M, Vanek D. Progress in forensic bone DNA analysis: lessons learned from ancient DNA. Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2021 Sep;54:102538. Available from: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigen.2021.102538

[5] Hughes CE, Juarez C, Yim AD. Forensic anthropology casework performance: Assessing accuracy and trends for biological profile estimates on a comprehensive sample of identified decedent cases. J Forensic Sci. 2021 Sep;66(5):1602–1616. Available from: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/1556- 4029.14782

[6] Sangchay N. Dzetkuličová V, Zuppello M, Chetsawang J. Consideration of accuracy and observational error analysis in pelvic sex assessment: A study in a Thai Cadaveric human population. Siriraj Med J 2022;74(5),330–339. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.33192/Smj.2022.40

[7] Jayakrishnan JM, Reddy J, Vinod Kumar RB. Role of forensic odontology and anthropology in the identification of human remains. J Oral Maxillofac Pathol. 2021;25(3):543–547. Available from: https://doi.org/DOI

[8] Berger CE, van Wijk M, de Boer HH. Bayesian inference in personal identification. In: Obertová Z, Stewart A, Cattaneo C (eds) Statistics and probability in forensic anthropology. Elsevier Academic Press, London, UK. 2020; pp 301–312. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-815764-0.00006-X

[9] Rohmani A, Shafie MS, Nor FM. Sex estimation using the human vertebra: A systematic review. Egypt J Forensic Sci. 2021;11:1–15. Available from: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/s41935-021-00238-2

[10] Miller CA, Hwang SJ, Cotter MM, Vorperian HK. Developmental morphology of the cervical vertebrae and the emergence of sexual dimorphism in size and shape: A computed tomography study. Anat Rec (Hoboken). 2021 Aug;304(8):1692–1708. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.24559

[11] Mostafavi RS, Memarian A, Amiri A, Motamedi O. Estimating sex from second and seventh cervical vertebras in Iranian adult population using computed tomography scan images 2020. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-26554/v1 https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-26554/v1.

[12] Mostafavi RS, Memarian A, Amiri A, Motamedi O. Investigation of sexing accuracy of second and seventh cervical vertebras in adult Iranian population by using CT scan images. J Indian Acad Forensic Med. 2021;43(3):258–264. https://doi.org/doi:10.5958/0974-0848.2021.00065.8

[13] Hackman L, Black SM. Introduction: Forensic anthropology and interdisciplinarity. J R Anthropol Inst 2023. https://doi.org/doi.org/10.1111/1467-9655.13992

[14] Bailey C, Vidoli GM. Age-at-death estimation: accuracy and reliability of common age-reporting strategies in forensic anthropology. Forensic Sci 2023. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci3010014

[15] Rattanachet P. Proximal femur in biological profile estimation - Current knowledge and future directions. Leg Med (Tokyo). 2022 Sep;58:102081. Available from: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2022.102081

[16] Pilli E, Palamenghi A, Marino A, Staiti N, Alladio E, Morelli S, et al. Comparing genetic and physical anthropological analyses for the biological profile of unidentified and identified bodies in Milan. Genes (Basel). 2023 May;14(5):1064. Available from: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14051064

[17] Uthman AT, Al-Rawi NH, Al-Timimi JF. Evaluation of foramen magnum in gender determination using helical CT scanning. Dentomaxillofacial Radiol 2012;41:197–202. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1259/dmfr/21276789 https://doi.org/10.1259/dmfr/21276789.

[18] Marlow EJ, Pastor RF. Sex determination using the second cervical vertebra—A test of the method. J Forensic Sci. 2011 Jan;56(1):165–169. Available from: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556- 4029.2010.01543.x

[19] Wescott DJ. Sex variation in the second cervical vertebra. J Forensic Sci. 2000 Mar;45(2):462–466. Available from: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1520/JFS14707J

[20] Torimitsu S, Makino Y, Saitoh H, Sakuma A, Ishii N, Yajima D, et al. Sexual determination based on multidetector computed tomographic measurements of the second cervical vertebra in a contemporary Japanese population. Forensic Sci Int. 2016 Sep;266:588.e1–6. Available from: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.04.010

[21] Rogers TL. A visual method of determining the sex of skeletal remains using the distal humerus. J Forensic Sci. 1999 Jan;44(1):57–60. Available from: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1520/JFS14411J

[22] Black TK 3rd. A new method for assessing the sex of fragmentary skeletal remains: femoral shaft circumference. Am J Phys Anthropol. 1978 Feb;48(2):227–231. Available from: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.1330480217

[23] Šlaus M, Tomicić Z. Discriminant function sexing of fragmentary and complete tibiae from medieval Croatian sites. Forensic Sci Int. 2005 Jan;147(2-3):147–152. Available from: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.09.073

[24] Ríos Frutos L. Metric determination of sex from the humerus in a Guatemalan forensic sample. Forensic Sci Int. 2005 Jan;147(2-3):153–157. Available from: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.09.077

[25] Barrier IL, L’Abbé EN. Sex determination from the radius and ulna in a modern South African sample. Forensic Sci Int. 2008 Jul;179(1):85.e1–7. Available from: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2008.04.012

[26] Gama I, Navega D, Cunha E. Sex estimation using the second cervical vertebra: a morphometric analysis in a documented Portuguese skeletal sample. Int J Legal Med. 2015 Mar;129(2):365–372. Available from: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-014-1083-0

[27] Bethard JD, Seet BL. Sex determination from the second cervical vertebra: a test of Wescott’s method on a modern American sample. J Forensic Sci. 2013 Jan;58(1):101–103. Available from: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2012.02183.x

[28] Miller CA, Hwang SJ, Cotter MM, Vorperian HK. Cervical vertebral body growth and emergence of sexual dimorphism: A developmental study using computed tomography. J Anat. 2019 Jun;234(6):764– 777. Available from: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.12976

[29] Standring S. Gray’s Anatomy the Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 42nd Editi. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2020.

[30] Chovalopoulou ME, Valakos E, Nikita E. Skeletal sex estimation methods based on the Athens Collection. Forensic Sci. 2022;2(4):715–724.

[31] Klales AR. Chapter 2 - Practitioner preferences for sex estimation from human skeletal remains. In: Klales AR, editor. Sex Estim Hum Skelet, Academic Press; 2020, p. 11–23. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-815767-1.00002-X

[32] Mello-Gentil T, Souza-Mello V. Contributions of anatomy to forensic sex estimation: Focus on head and neck bones. Forensic Sci Res. 2021 Jul;7(1):11–23.

[33] Curate F. The estimation of sex of human skeletal remains in the Portuguese identified collections: History and prospects. Forensic Sci. 2022;2(1):272–286.

[34] Zhang YY, Xie N, Sun XD, Nice EC, Liou YC, Huang C, et al. Insights and implications of sexual dimorphism in osteoporosis. Bone Res. 2024 Feb;12(1):8.

[35] Schaffler MB, Alson MD, Heller JG, Garfin SR. Morphology of the dens; A quantitative study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1992;17:738–743. https://doi.org/10.1097/00007632-199207000-00002

[36] Elagamy SE, Abdel Raouf SY, Habib RM, Habib NM. 2nd and 7th cervical vertebrae indices using multislice computed tomography as a diagnostic tool in differentiation of sex and age in an Egyptian sample, Menoufia governorate. Egypt J Forensic Sci Appl Toxicol. 2023;23(3):1–14.

[37] Amores A, Botella MC, Alemán I. Sexual dimorphism in the 7th cervical and 12th thoracic vertebrae from a Mediterranean population. J Forensic Sci. 2014 Mar;59(2):301–305. Available from: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.12320