Determination of Sex Using Mastoid Process among South Indian Population - A Review

Abstract

Identification of an individual is of utmost importance in conditions of natural calamities or in case of man
made disaster. Determination of sex becomes the primary priority in the process of identification of a person
by a forensic investigator during the time of crime investigations, natural disasters and the ethnic studies.
Determination of sex is one of the vital for the identification of an individual. Often the fragmentary remains
are available for forensic identification of an individual making sex determination difficult. When the pelvic
bone is unavailable, the skull is also widely considered the best indicator of sex. Skull is important in this
regard as it resists adverse environmental conditions over time. The first indicator for the sex determination
is the pelvic bones and pelvis which is more accurate than the skull bones. The skull is the most dimorphic
and easily sexed portion of the skeleton after pelvis, providing up to 92% reliability. The mastoid process
can thus be used as a best indicator of sex as well as ancestry of populations and individuals. Mastoid
process is a dimorphic bone situated at the basolateral region of the skull. This mastoid process is placed in
the posterior aspect of the temporal bone. Mastoid process is one of the two projections situated behind the
ear. The mastoid process provides an attachment for certain muscles of the neck. This mastoid process is a
fragmentary piece of skull, is ideal for sexual dimorphism as it is resistant to damage due to its anatomical
position at the base of the skull. The mastoid process of the skull plays a vital role in determination of the
sex as it is the most di-morphic bone present at the baso-lateral region of the skull. Detailed morphometric
analysis of mastoid process, mastoid triangle will help in the planning of surgical intervention involving the
skull base. This review will be useful for the anatomist, neurosurgeon, radiologist and morphologists clinical
anatomists to carry out further research work. The aim of the present review is the determination of sex using
mastoid process and mastoid triangle among south Indian population