Male and Female Skeletons in Forensic Dentistry: A Guide

  

                          courtesy photo

Differentiating between male and female skeletons, including dental features, is crucial in forensic dentistry.

For Adult Male and Female:

1. Cranium:

   • Male: Larger, more robust with pronounced brow ridges, larger mastoid processes, and square-shaped orbits.
   • Female: Smaller, smoother skull, with less pronounced brow ridges, rounded orbits, and smaller mastoid processes.

2. Mandible (Jawbone):

   • Male: Square-shaped mandible with a more prominent gonial angle (~90 degrees).
   • Female: V-shaped or rounded mandible with a more obtuse gonial angle (~120 degrees).

3. Pelvis:

   • Male: Narrower and taller pelvis with a heart-shaped pelvic inlet.
   • Female: Wider, shorter pelvis with a round or oval pelvic inlet, adapted for childbirth.

4. Dental Characteristics:

   • Male: Larger teeth, especially canines, with more pronounced ridges. Teeth often show more wear due to greater bite force.
   • Female: Smaller teeth with smoother enamel and less pronounced ridges.

5. Overall Bone Size and Robustness:

   • Male: Heavier and thicker bones with more prominent muscle attachment sites.
   • Female: Lighter and smoother bones.

Children’s Skeletons: Differences Between Male and Female

1. Teeth:

   • Gender-based differences in teeth size and eruption patterns are minimal in children, but boys may have slightly larger primary molars.
   • Girls typically show earlier eruption of permanent teeth (by 6–12 months).

2. Growth Patterns:

   • Boys generally exhibit later skeletal growth and ossification compared to girls.
   • Female skeletons develop earlier due to hormonal differences, especially in pelvis and long bones.

3. Pelvic Development:

   • In children, the pelvic bones are less developed, but subtle differences may exist by late adolescence:
     • Female: Early signs of widening pelvis.
     • Male: Narrower pelvic structure persists.

4. Cranial Features:

   • Sex-related cranial differences are subtle but may become noticeable in older children (e.g., brow ridge prominence in boys).

Forensic Applications

• Adults: Features such as pelvic shape and mandible structure are most reliable for gender determination.
• Children: Dental eruption and skeletal development stages are better indicators of age than sex due to the subtle nature of gender differences.

This detailed comparison helps forensic dentists and anthropologists determine sex and age more accurately in skeletal remains.