Evaluating sexual dimorphism in the human mastoid process: A viewpoint on the methodology

The mastoid process is one of the most sexually dimorphic features in the human skull, and is therefore often used to identify the sex of skeletons. Numerous techniques for assessing variation in the size and shape of the mastoid process have been proposed and implemented in osteological research, b...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical anatomy (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2015-07, Vol.28 (5), p.593-601
Main Authors: Petaros, Anja, Sholts, Sabrina B., Slaus, Mario, Bosnar, Alan, Wärmländer, Sebastian K.T.S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biocompatibility
Biomedical materials
Female
forensic anthropology
Forensic Anthropology - methods
Forensic Anthropology - standards
Humans
Male
Mastoid - anatomy & histology
mastoid process
osteology
Sex Characteristics
Sexual dimorphism
standardization
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Summary:The mastoid process is one of the most sexually dimorphic features in the human skull, and is therefore often used to identify the sex of skeletons. Numerous techniques for assessing variation in the size and shape of the mastoid process have been proposed and implemented in osteological research, but its complex form still presents difficulties for consistent and effective analysis. In this article, we compare the different techniques and variables that have been used to define, measure, and visually score sexual dimorphism in the mastoid process. We argue that the current protocols fail to capture the full morphological range of this bony projection, and suggest ways of improving and standardizing them, regarding both traditional and 3D‐based approaches. Clin. Anat. 28:593–601, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
ISSN:0897-3806
1098-2353
1098-2353
DOI:10.1002/ca.22545