Morphometric analysis of the palatine triangle in adult human skulls: a potential aid for anthropologists and intraoral bone grafts

Abstract

Morphometrics of the hard palate is an important aspect of forensic anthropology and odontology. Palatine triangle is a triangular area in the hard palate formed by the palatine processes of the maxillae, which can aid intraoral bone grafts. We present the osteological measurements of the palatine triangle (maxillary palate) based on sex, compare it with other hard palate parameters, and establish the correlation between them. Seventy-seven male skulls and 36 female skulls were examined. Various morphometric measurements of the hard palate and palatine triangle were performed meticulously. Mean and standard deviation of each parameter were computed for groups using SPSS 16.0. Relationships between all parameters were analyzed using Pearson’s rank correlation test. The mean palatine length was 38.84 ± 3.75 mm in males and 37.22 ± 4.12 mm in females; the mean palatine breadth was 31.36 ± 2.61 mm in males and 29.78 ± 3.07 mm in females. The mean area of the palatine triangle was 600.88 ± 80.16 mm2 in male skulls and 547.96 ± 94.28 mm2 in the female skulls. Statistically significant difference in various measurements of the palatine triangle and hard palate between the male and female skulls was noted. Leptostaphyline (narrow palate) was the most prominent type of palate. The area of the palatine triangle showed a strong positive correlation between the total length and breadth of the palate for both male and female skulls. A strong positive correlation was also observed between the palate length and the palatine triangle length. Palatine index and palate breadth had a statistically significant moderate linear relationship. The maxillary palate length, breadth, and area of the palatine triangle were higher in males when compared to females in South Indian origin skulls. Most of the skulls had a narrow palate. The results of this metric analysis of the palatine triangle may lead to a new concept of anatomical research into studying the hard palate, which can be used for sexual dimorphism.