title: Foramen magnum as a tool for sexual dimorphism: A cone beam computed tomography study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  (1) To evaluate dimensions of the foramen magnum (FM) among males and females and to establish its role in sexual dimorphism using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). (2) To evaluate sagittal diameter, transverse diameter, area, and circumference of FM among males and females.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and eighty CBCT scans (140 males and 140 females; age range, 20-80 years) were selected for this study. The sagittal diameter, transverse diameter, area, and circumference of FM were measured, and data were subjected to discriminant analysis for the evaluation of sexual dimorphism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The area of FM was the best discriminant parameter which is used to study the sexual dimorphism with an overall accuracy of 72%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It can be concluded that the reconstructed CBCT image provides valuable measurements for the FM and could be used for sexing even when other methods are inconclusive.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Sri Aurobindo College of Dentistry, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Mayuri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jaitley
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Sri Aurobindo College of Dentistry, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Tushar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Phulambrikar
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Sri Aurobindo College of Dentistry, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Manasi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kode
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Sri Aurobindo College of Dentistry, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Anjali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Sri Aurobindo College of Dentistry, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Siddharth Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D005260:Female; D005539:Foramen Magnum / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D055815:Young Adult