Sexing of mandible using ramus and condyle in Indian population: a discriminant function analysis

The mandible is the strongest bone of the skull, and it is commonly utilized in forensic anthropology for determination of sex from skeletal remains. It has been extensively studied by both metric and non-metric methods, but for this purpose an intact mandible is often required. This study was conducted in Indian population using discriminant function analysis to calculate the accuracy of two parameters each from ramus and condyle, for their use in sexing. Discriminant functions (1) and (2) were devised using parameters of ramus and condyle respectively. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS 19. A total of 158 rami from 79 intact mandibles of known sex obtained from dissection hall of Armed Forces Medical College were studied. Mean values for all the four parameters; condyle length (CL), condyle breadth (CB), minimum ramus breadth (MnRB) and maximum ramus breadth (MxRB) were greater for males than for females, and difference in means calculated using student’s t test was significant at P value less than 0.01. The accuracy of discriminant function (1) (MnRB and MxRB) in correctly sexing mandible was 89.6% for males, 69.2% for females and 82.9% overall. The same for function (2) (CL and CB) was 90.6% for males, 30.8% for females and an overall of 70.9%. This accuracy is comparable to those achieved using parameters from whole mandible, as seen from several studies done in various populations in the past. Hence fragments of mandible with just ramus or condyle can be used for sexing with results as good as that of whole mandible.