Age Effect in the Morphological Traits Performance for Sex Determination in Human Skulls and Mandibles

In this study we tested the hypothesis that diagnostic performance of the morphological indicators for sexual dimorphism are reduced as they are applied in skull and mandibles of older subjects. We used 275 adult human skulls, 250 of these with mandible, all subjects with sex and age registry. Sixteen classic morphological indicators of sexual dimorphism were evaluated, this information was compared with the registry and results noted in terms of precision. The best general performance of morphological indicators of sexual dimorphism were recorded in the 31 - 40 and 61 - 70 years, age range groups. Lowest precision ws recorded in the group corresponding to subjects between 21 ­ 30 years. Our results do not support the proposed hypothesis and suggest a progressive and cumulative effect of factors that determine dimorphism expression. En este estudio testeamos la hipotesis que el rendimiento diagnostico de los indicadores morfologicos de dimorfismo sexual disminuia al aplicarlos en craneos y mandibulas de individuos de mayor edad. Utilizamos 275 craneos humanos adultos, 250 de los cuales tenian mandibula, todos con registro de sexo y edad. Se evaluaron 16 indicadores morfologicos clasicos de dimorfismo sexual, estos datos se contrastaron con el registro y los resultados se expresaron en terminos de exactitud. El mejor rendimiento general de los indicadores morfologicos de dimorfismo sexual se encontraron en los rangos etarios de 31-40 y de 61-70 anos, la menor exactitud se encontro en el grupo correspondiente a individuos de entre 21-30 anos. Nuestros resultados no sustentan la hipotesis propuesta y sugieren un efecto progresivo y acumulativo de los factores que determinan la expresion de dimorfismo.