ABSTRACT
Background: Self-directed learning (SDL) is a process in which individuals assume the responsibility of identifying their learning needs, setting goals, locating sources, developing and implementing proper strategies, and evaluating the outcomes of learning both individually and collectively. The advantages of SDL include, but not limited to, gaining more autonomy in learning, having higher motivation for it, acquiring lifelong learning skills, and developing greater self-control, self-confidence, and self-management. SDL has become popular in medical curricula and has been advocated as an effective learning strategy for medical students to develop competence in knowledge acquisition. Aim and Objectives: To introduce self directed learning in the Department of Anatomy, to encourage faculty members to accept SDL as a Teaching Learning method and encouraging students to develop an attitude of self directed learning & to become lifelong learners. Methodology: After proper sensitization of the faculty & students regarding SDL, two sessions were conducted during the Anatomy Dissection Hall timings of the First Year students. The performance of the students, in the SDL topics was assessed using the MCQ & SAQ tests. Feedback regarding the SDL methodology was taken both from the students as well as the faculty. Also the Questionnaires were given to students applying Fischer’s Self Directed Learning Readiness Scale (SDLRS) & Jefferson Scale of Life Long learning –Health Profession Version (JeffSLL-HSP) & the results were statistically analyzed. Results: A total of 126 MBBS students of the first semester participated in SDL session and most students scored more than mean score in the tests after SDL sessions, there was a fourfold increase in the number of students scoring more than 80% in the two SDL tests. Also participating students showed high readiness towards SDL and were oriented to become Life Long Learners. Conclusions: SDL can be effectively implemented in the Department of Anatomy and it motivates students to become life long learners.
ABSTRACT
Background: Different bones of the human skeleton present age-, sex- and race-related dissimilarities, so thatusing visual criteria & metric techniques, age, sex, and race of an individual can be estimated from these bones.One such bone is the hip bone whose characteristic morphology makes it interesting from anatomical,anthropological, and forensic point of view. Its features are important not only for the anatomist but also for theanthropologist, for population studies & for forensic experts for specimen recognition and gender determinationof skeletal remains. The three constituent parts of hip bone i.e ilium, ischium and pubis depict different genderspecific features. The pubis showing pubertal changes first of all are being considered in this article. Its differentparameters will be definitely helpful to anatomists, anthropologists & forensic experts in their respective fields.Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted on 100 adult undamaged human hip bones, (M:F=80:20,R:L= 50:50) obtained from the Department of Anatomy, Government Medical College, Amritsar. The variousdimensions of the pubis measured were (1) Mid Pubic Width, (2) Length of Pubic Crest, (3) Length of Pubic Bone,(4) Length of Pubic bone upto acetabulum. The observations were statistically evaluated to find out sex & siderelated differences.Results: All the pubic parameters measured were significantly larger in female bones as compared to malebones, except the mid pubic width. However no significant side specific pattern could be determined in either sex.Conclusions: There is a relative paucity of region specific data for the various parameters of pubis in the accessibleliterature. Thus the present study advocates the significance of pubis in sexual dimorphism, for sex determination& provides reference values for the North India region.
ABSTRACT
Background: Skeleton is an excellent investigating material in living and non-living population for genetic,anthropological and forensic purposes. Anatomical knowledge of human osteology, in the evaluation of deathmay help to shed light on legal issues such as sex and age determination, parentage and racial identity. Withracial differences, it’s difficult to implement a uniform method for determining sex. Therefore, the need forpresent study was felt. Many bones of skeleton present size related sexual differences, those of the pelvis usuallydisplayed differences in morphology independent of size as the sex hormones influence the reproductive functions.In the present study an attempt has been made to arrive at appropriate metric data, regarding sex determinationof North Indian pelves using indices calculated upon dry hip bones, sacrum & pelvis as a whole.Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 50 adult pelvis (M: F= 40:10) obtained from GovernmentMedical College, Amritsar. Measurements related to Pelvic Brim Index, Coxal Index, Index I & Index II of GreaterSciatic Notch, Ischiopubic Index, Sacral index, Longitudinal Curvature index & Corporobasal index were taken bystandardized methods, indices were calculated & results were statistically analyzed.Results: Amongst the various indices calculated in present study Coxal Index, Index I & Index II of Greater SciaticNotch, Ischiopubic Index & Sacral index were found to be significantly sexually dimorphic.Conclusions: Since skeletal characteristics vary among populations; therefore the present study provides adatabase for various significant pelvis related indices amongst North Indian population to optimize the accuracyof sex identification
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Sex estimation of skeletal remains is an important issue in both forensics and bioarchaeology. Many mammalian species display sexual dimorphism in the pelvis, where females possess larger dimensions of the obstetric canal than males. This is contrary to the general pattern of body size dimorphism, where males are larger than females. Pelvic dimorphism is often attributed to selection relating to parturition, or as a developmental consequence of secondary sexual differentiation. Current opinion regards the hip bone as the most reliable sex indicator because it is the most dimorphic bone, particularly in adult individuals. Material & Methods: In the present study, an attempt has been made to find the base line data of thirteen parameters pertaining to ilia of 100 hip bones of known sex and side. Variables studied were: Total length of iliac crest, lengths of its ventral & dorsal segments; distance between Anterior Superior Iliac Spine & Iliac Tubercle; Iliac height; Ventral, Sacral, Direct, Lower & Upper iliac heights; Iliac breadth; Lower, Ventral & Sacral iliac breadths, Length of pelvic & sacral parts of Chilotic Line. Results: The results obtained were tabulated, statistically analysed & compared to the earlier literature. It was seen that almost all the parameters except Sacral Iliac Height, Lower Iliac Height & Pelvic parts of Chilotic line were longer in males. Conclusion: To conclude, the morphometry of ilium also constitutes an important mean of sexual dimorphism. However its parameters are longer in males as it does not form a part of birth canal so is independent of sex hormones & is akin to general rule that male bones are larger than female bones.
ABSTRACT
Background: The use of coxal elements for age & sex identification is primary and most widespread way of bringing us closer to the identity of dead individuals in archaeological & certain forensic scenarios. It is well known that there is metric & morphologic variation in expression of sexual dimorphism between racial phenotypes and populations. Therefore, the purpose of present research is to assess metric differences in the pubo-ischial region of hip bones amongst North Indian Population. Material & Methods: Material for the current investigation comprised of 100 hip bones [(M: F=80:20) & (R: L=50:50)] obtained from Department of Anatomy, Government Medical College, Amritsar, Punjab, India. Pubic Length & ischial length were measured and Pubo-ischial index was calculated. All the data thus obtained was compiled, tabulated and statistically analyzed. Results: All the three parameters showed statistically significant sex differences. Ischium was longer in males, pubis in females & pubo-ischial index was also more in females. Conclusion: These variables can be used to determine sex from human hip bone or its fragments.
ABSTRACT
The sacrum has always attracted the attention of the medico-legal experts for establishing the sex, because of its contribution to pelvic girdle and associated functional sex differences. The present study was performed to evaluate the reliability of the various parameters of sacrum in this regard. The material for the study comprised of 50 adult sacra (M: F= 40:10), obtained from the Department of Anatomy, Govt. Medical College, Amritsar. Different parameters viz. Midventral straight length, Midventral curved length, Ventral straight breadth, Transverse diameter of base, Transverse diameter of body of S1, Antero-posterior diameter of body of S1, Breadth of alae were measured and indices viz. Sacral index, Longitudinal curvature index and Corporobasal index were calculated and statistically analyzed . Out of these Midventral straight length, Midventral curved length, Transverse diameter of base, Antero-posterior diameter of body of S1 and Breadth of alae were found to be significantly more in males while Sacral index was significantly more in females. Corporobasal index was found to be more in females though statistically insignificant.