SKELETAL MARKERS OF SEXUAL DIMORPHISM: AN ANATOMICAL ANALYSIS OF THE HUMAN SKELETON
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52340/jecm.2026.03.02Keywords:
Sexual dimorphism, morphometric analysis, pelvic morphology, craniofacial dimorphismAbstract
Objective: structured review of anatomical differences between male and female human skeletal systems, with a focused emphasis on sexual dimorphism relevant to identification. It consolidates key morphological variations across major skeletal regions including the pelvis, skull, and long bones, highlighting consistent structural patterns that distinguish the two sexes.
Method: The review emphasizes the importance of the anatomical differences in forensic anthropology, where skeletal identification plays a crucial role in medico-legal investigations.
Result: The pelvis demonstrates the highest degree of dimorphism, particularly in pelvic inlet shape, subpubic angle, and overall pelvic proportions, making it the most reliable skeletal region for sex estimation. Cranial differences are expressed through variation in robusticity, muscle attachment development, and craniofacial proportions, while long bones show differences in length, cortical thickness, and structural robustness. Although individual skeletal elements vary in diagnostic reliability, their combined assessment improves accuracy in sex determination.
Conclusion: By integrating skeletal features into a single structured framework, this paper supports a clearer understanding of sex-based anatomical variation for medical and forensic applications.
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References
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