UNVEILING SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN THE HUMAN MANDIBLE: A MORPHOMETRIC STUDY OF THE GONIAL ANGLE AND ITS FORENSIC IMPLICATIONS IN NORTH INDIAN POPULATION

Background: Gender determination is a fundamental step in forensic anthropology and medico-legal examinations, especially when dealing with unidentified skeletal remains. The mandible, due to its durability and resistance to postmortem changes, plays a crucial role in sex determination. Among its features, the mandibular angle (gonial angle) is widely studied for sexual dimorphism.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy, UPUMS, Saifai from August 2024 to August 2025. A total of 100 dry adult human mandibles (50 male and 50 female) were analyzed. Mandibles with deformities, fractures, or postmortem damage were excluded. Mandibular angles were measured bilaterally using a protractor by drawing two tangent lines one along the posterior border of the ramus and another along the lower border of the mandibular body. Statistical analysis was performed using independent t-tests, and p-values <0.05 were considered significant.