The influence of crown size dimorphism on sex differences in the Carabelli trait and the canine distal accessory ridge in man.
When the two sexes were contrasted, Pima Indian males showed larger crown dimensions and more pronounced expressions of two morphologic variables, the Carabelli trait and the lower canine distal accessory ridge. In addition, a significant positive relationship was found between crown size and degree of expression of the morphologic traits. When regression analysis was utilized to control for male-female tooth size differences, the moderate dimorphism shown by Carabelli trait was reduced by about half. The more dimorphic distal accessory ridge, related primarily to mesio-distal diameter, also showed a lesser sex difference when crown size effects were held constant. While size dimorphism does contribute to morphologic dimorphism, factors unrelated to crown size still contribute the majority of variance present in trait expression both within and between sexes.
D003481:Cuspid / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009811:Odontometry; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014070:Tooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology*