Sexual dimorphism among the wormian bones in adult human skulls.

ABSTRACT

This study was aimed at evaluating the sexual dimorphism with respect to overall incidence, number and location of wormian bones. Adult dry human skulls (n=180) of known age and sex available in the Department of Anatomy, St.John’s Medical College, Bangalore were included in the study. Overall incidence of wormian bones was more in female (64.80%) than in male skulls (40.20%). They occurred more frequently at lambdoid suture (60%). Wormian bones along the coronal suture and at bregma were seen only in male skulls, while intra- orbital wormian bones were seen only in female skulls. Wormian bones along the sagittal suture showed sexual dimorphism (27.78%, p= 0.045) while at lambda and lambdoid suture showed a good discriminating power of 17.65% (p=0.087) and 21.43% (p=0.089) respectively. This study concludes by stating that, there exists a moderate degree of sexual dimorphism among the wormian bones with respect to overall incidence, number and location.