Forensic anthropology from skeletal remains to CT scans: A review on sexual dimorphism of human skull

Abstract

Sex estimation remains one of the most important steps in a forensic anthropology context, especially when dealing with deteriorated or fragmented skeletal remains. In this respect, the need for the permanent actualisation of study database, as well of the skeletal remains is obvious. Therefore, besides classical skeletal collections an important amount of data can be obtained from computed imaging of the skeletal system, namely CT scans. The CT scans have the advantage of being virtually unlimited in number, not having any interference with secular trends, individuals being of known age and sex as well as increase in accessibility and applicability of data, for subsequent statistical and complex analysis (for instance, geometric morphometric). In the following review, we have gathered and compared some of the most significant studies in the field of physical and forensic anthropology focusing on sexual dimorphism on the skull, both on skeletal collections and CT scans. The results of the studies were similar in terms of sexing accuracy, thus allowing us to conclude that using CT scans in forensic anthropology is a viable and sometimes better option than skeletal collections, in term of data acquisition.

A Geometric Morphometrics Approach for Sex Estimation Based on the Orbital Region of Human Skulls from Bosnian Population

“…Classic methods, such as quantitative and qualitative methods, are based on describing the morphological variability between male and female skeletons or measuring defined diameters and comparing them between the sexes [2]. In recent times, methods based on the application of computer programs have been used whose task is to observe even the smallest morphological variability of the examined structures [3].…”

Digital Zooarchaeology: State of the art, challenges, prospects and synergies

“…These methodologies also allowed us to examine changes on bone microstructure, helping us to better understand the effects of different taphonomic agents, such as burning (Boschin et al 2015) and butchery (Moretti et al 2015). In particular, high resolution μCT scanning of human and animal remains provides digital data on morphology, shape, and size, which can be used without having direct access to the actual materials (Teodoru-Raghina et al 2017). Representing the real-time digital counterparts of physical objects, digital twins are a fundamental concept in zooarchaeological but also in wider archaeological studies, providing endless possibilities to researchers to study an artefact or ecofact, without removing archaeological specimens from the countries of origin.…”

THE CONGRUENCE BETWEEN CRANIOMETRIC OF ADULTS HEAD CT SCAN WITH AGE AND GENDER A STUDY IN RADIODIAGNOSTIC DEPARTMENT OF dr. SOETOMO GENERAL HOSPITAL SURABAYA AT AUGUST-DECEMBER 2019

“…In May 2014, the International Society of Forensic Radiology and Imaging (ISFRI) issued a consensus on the use of PMCT in a DVI process (Brough et al, 2015). The use of CT scans in identification has several advantages, that are non-invasive and relatively fast, enabling multilayer reconstruction, manipulating virtual images of bones, being able to assess craniometrics more objectively, able to evaluate internal and smaller structures which may be difficult to measure using conventional methods (Raghina et al, 2017).…”