Male Skull vs Female Skull (Part 3: Mandible)

Now that you are more likely to be able to distinguish between male and female skulls, let's boost your confidence with the final aspect - Mandible!

"QUESTION 2

Is a male human skull different from that of a female? If yes, how"

As mentioned earlier, generally the male skull tops most of the features when compared to a female skull. Their attributes are mostly bigger, thicker, or sharper in a whole. Males, so dominating! 

Let us now look into the Mandible (Jaw) aspect of the skull. Likewise, there are also.... distinct features we can appreciate between a male and a female skull. 


(Picture Adapted: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0094129807000673)
Do you realize the prominent features of the lower part of the mandible (jaw)? In a male, (1) the chin is more square compared to females as they portray a more rounded chin with a mid-line point. 

CASE STUDY: Here's an example of the Chin & Jaw Re-countouring done for transitioning girls performed by Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons from Beverly Hills Institute of Aesthetics & Reconstructive Surgery.  

It's interesting to note the transition of a male to female jaw. 

(Picture Adapted: Bass, William M. 1995. 4th ed. Human Osteology:A Laboratory and Field Manual of the Human Skeleton. Specials Publication No. 2. Missouri)

If you take a glance at the dentition between both the female and male skulls, you would realize that (2) the teeth are larger in males, in particularly canines. Female has more petite teeth as they are socially grown to be known as the more feminine and gentle 'creatures' hence, does not require enormous teeth. No?

However, the next attribute to discuss finally is a win-point of the female surpass over the male. (3) The Gonial Angle. Before we look into this aspect, what do you understand about the Gonial Angle? It is the angle formed by the junction of the posterior and lower borders of the human lower jaw. At simpler terms, it means the angle of the mandible (jaw).

Picture Adapted & Modified: http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?pid=S0038-23532008000200006&script=sci_arttext
 
Here's a simple diagram to help you understand the markings of the aspect we are about to discuss on.


As shown in the diagram, the Gonial angle is greater in female compare male. Scientifically, Gonial angle >125 degrees in female where as <124 degrees in male.

Picture Adapted: http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?pid=S0038-23532008000200006&script=sci_arttext

Apart the angle, the (4) Gonial eversion is less obvious in females are more marked in males. A Gonial Eversion is the point/apex of the mandible being turned outwards. 
 
Next, let's observe the ascending ramus of the mandible. Based on the observation, can we tell that (5) the length of the ascending ramus is shorter in females compared to male?

 It is known that the ascending ramus are usually <28mm in females where as >33mm in males. So dear male readers out there, do you realize that you actually have a higher mandible?

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That's It! After following the baby steps we guided you along..

Congratulations you, yes YOU, are now officially equipped with the skills and knowledge to distinguish the males and female skull.

References:

Bass, William M. 1995. 4th ed. Human Osteology:A Laboratory and Field Manual of the Human Skeleton. Specials Publication No. 2. Missouri