Human Adult Occipital Condyles : A Morphometric Analysis

This study proposed to morphologically analyze the adult human occipital condyle, estimate the bilateral differences, sexual dimorphism and compare with the available data. We conducted this study on hundred occipital condyles in fifty dry human skulls. The measurement was performed by the means of the vernier’s caliper on both sides of the skull. The parameters measured are length, width, height, anterior and posterior intercondylar distance of the occipital condyles. The data is tabulated and statistically analyzed. The mean length, width and the height of the left side of the occipital condyles are higher compare to the right side. The sexual dimorphism is also seen in this study. The male occipital condyles are comparatively bigger than the female one. Also the anterior and posterior intercondylar distance in male is comparatively higher. The use of morphometric values of the occipital condyles in North Indian skeletal populations may be considered in cases of fragmented cranial bases when no other morphogenetic or morphometric method can be utilized for sex determination. The data of the present study may provide anatomical reference to the neurosurgeons and thus help in surgical procedures around the craniovertebral junction.