International Journal of Medical Imaging

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Sex Determination from the Morphometry of the Foramen Magnum in Benin: Potential Forensic Identification Tool

Received: 06 October 2020    Accepted: 21 October 2020    Published: 30 October 2020
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Abstract

Background: previous studies had concluded that studying the measurements of the foramen magnum could enable sex determination with good reliability for forensic identification issue. The reliability of identification methods based on foramen magnum measurements are related to natives populations. Objective: he objective of this study was to assess the value of the measurements’ use of the foramen magnum in the identification of the sex with a view to exploitation in forensic medicine at the local level. Methods: The antero-posterior and latero-lateral diameters as well as the area of the foramen magnum were measured and calculated on a series of 200 cranial scans (114 men and 84 women). The distribution of measurements was compared by sex. The collected data was subjected to binary logistic regression analysis. Results: The values of the measurements of the foramen magnum of the men are significantly higher than those of the women. Binary logistic regression performed from anteroposterior diameter or areas correctly predicted gender in 64 to 66% of cases. When the regression is based on the latero-lateral diameter alone, 56.8% of individuals are well classified. Conclusion: Sexual dimorphism is pronounced at the level of FM morphometry. Measurements of the foramen magnum can be used to identify sex in a forensic context in Benin. However, its use should preferably be done as a confirmatory test or in situations where the occipital bone is the only structure of the skull that is complete.

DOI 10.11648/j.ijmi.20200804.13
Published in International Journal of Medical Imaging (Volume 8, Issue 4, December 2020)
Page(s) 84-88
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Foramen Magnum, Scanner, Forensic Identification, Sex, Benin

References
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Author Information
  • Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, National Teaching University Hospital Hubert Koutoukou Maga (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Benin Republic; University of Abomey-Calavi, Faculty of Health Sciences, Abomey-Calavi, Benin Republic

  • Radiology Department Parakou, Teaching University Hospital of Borgou Department, Parakou, Benin Republic

  • University of Abomey-Calavi, Faculty of Health Sciences, Abomey-Calavi, Benin Republic; Forensic Medicine Unit, Internal Medicine, National Teaching University Hospital Hubert Koutoukou Maga (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Benin Republic

  • Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, National Teaching University Hospital Hubert Koutoukou Maga (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Benin Republic; University of Abomey-Calavi, Faculty of Health Sciences, Abomey-Calavi, Benin Republic

  • Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, National Teaching University Hospital Hubert Koutoukou Maga (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Benin Republic

  • Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, National Teaching University Hospital Hubert Koutoukou Maga (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Benin Republic

  • Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, National Teaching University Hospital Hubert Koutoukou Maga (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Benin Republic; University of Abomey-Calavi, Faculty of Health Sciences, Abomey-Calavi, Benin Republic

  • Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, National Teaching University Hospital Hubert Koutoukou Maga (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Benin Republic; University of Abomey-Calavi, Faculty of Health Sciences, Abomey-Calavi, Benin Republic

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    Yekpe Ahouansou Patricia, Savi de Tove Kofi-Mensa, Bigot Cep, Adjadohoun Sbmg, Savi de Tove Jean-Louis, et al. (2020). Sex Determination from the Morphometry of the Foramen Magnum in Benin: Potential Forensic Identification Tool. International Journal of Medical Imaging, 8(4), 84-88. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmi.20200804.13

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    ACS Style

    Yekpe Ahouansou Patricia; Savi de Tove Kofi-Mensa; Bigot Cep; Adjadohoun Sbmg; Savi de Tove Jean-Louis, et al. Sex Determination from the Morphometry of the Foramen Magnum in Benin: Potential Forensic Identification Tool. Int. J. Med. Imaging 2020, 8(4), 84-88. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmi.20200804.13

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    AMA Style

    Yekpe Ahouansou Patricia, Savi de Tove Kofi-Mensa, Bigot Cep, Adjadohoun Sbmg, Savi de Tove Jean-Louis, et al. Sex Determination from the Morphometry of the Foramen Magnum in Benin: Potential Forensic Identification Tool. Int J Med Imaging. 2020;8(4):84-88. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmi.20200804.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijmi.20200804.13,
      author = {Yekpe Ahouansou Patricia and Savi de Tove Kofi-Mensa and Bigot Cep and Adjadohoun Sbmg and Savi de Tove Jean-Louis and Adjovi Boris and Biaou Olivier and Boco Vicentia},
      title = {Sex Determination from the Morphometry of the Foramen Magnum in Benin: Potential Forensic Identification Tool},
      journal = {International Journal of Medical Imaging},
      volume = {8},
      number = {4},
      pages = {84-88},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijmi.20200804.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmi.20200804.13},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijmi.20200804.13},
      abstract = {Background: previous studies had concluded that studying the measurements of the foramen magnum could enable sex determination with good reliability for forensic identification issue. The reliability of identification methods based on foramen magnum measurements are related to natives populations. Objective: he objective of this study was to assess the value of the measurements’ use of the foramen magnum in the identification of the sex with a view to exploitation in forensic medicine at the local level. Methods: The antero-posterior and latero-lateral diameters as well as the area of the foramen magnum were measured and calculated on a series of 200 cranial scans (114 men and 84 women). The distribution of measurements was compared by sex. The collected data was subjected to binary logistic regression analysis. Results: The values of the measurements of the foramen magnum of the men are significantly higher than those of the women. Binary logistic regression performed from anteroposterior diameter or areas correctly predicted gender in 64 to 66% of cases. When the regression is based on the latero-lateral diameter alone, 56.8% of individuals are well classified. Conclusion: Sexual dimorphism is pronounced at the level of FM morphometry. Measurements of the foramen magnum can be used to identify sex in a forensic context in Benin. However, its use should preferably be done as a confirmatory test or in situations where the occipital bone is the only structure of the skull that is complete.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Sex Determination from the Morphometry of the Foramen Magnum in Benin: Potential Forensic Identification Tool
    AU  - Yekpe Ahouansou Patricia
    AU  - Savi de Tove Kofi-Mensa
    AU  - Bigot Cep
    AU  - Adjadohoun Sbmg
    AU  - Savi de Tove Jean-Louis
    AU  - Adjovi Boris
    AU  - Biaou Olivier
    AU  - Boco Vicentia
    Y1  - 2020/10/30
    PY  - 2020
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmi.20200804.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijmi.20200804.13
    T2  - International Journal of Medical Imaging
    JF  - International Journal of Medical Imaging
    JO  - International Journal of Medical Imaging
    SP  - 84
    EP  - 88
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-832X
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmi.20200804.13
    AB  - Background: previous studies had concluded that studying the measurements of the foramen magnum could enable sex determination with good reliability for forensic identification issue. The reliability of identification methods based on foramen magnum measurements are related to natives populations. Objective: he objective of this study was to assess the value of the measurements’ use of the foramen magnum in the identification of the sex with a view to exploitation in forensic medicine at the local level. Methods: The antero-posterior and latero-lateral diameters as well as the area of the foramen magnum were measured and calculated on a series of 200 cranial scans (114 men and 84 women). The distribution of measurements was compared by sex. The collected data was subjected to binary logistic regression analysis. Results: The values of the measurements of the foramen magnum of the men are significantly higher than those of the women. Binary logistic regression performed from anteroposterior diameter or areas correctly predicted gender in 64 to 66% of cases. When the regression is based on the latero-lateral diameter alone, 56.8% of individuals are well classified. Conclusion: Sexual dimorphism is pronounced at the level of FM morphometry. Measurements of the foramen magnum can be used to identify sex in a forensic context in Benin. However, its use should preferably be done as a confirmatory test or in situations where the occipital bone is the only structure of the skull that is complete.
    VL  - 8
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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