THREE-DIMENSIONAL MSCT ANALYSIS OF SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN FACIAL SKULL AND PIRIFORM APERTURE MORPHOLOGY IN SOUTH BULGARIA

Purpose: Human skeleton exhibits varying degrees of sexual dimorphism – the pelvic bones, limbs long bones and the skull are the most frequently studied. Methods have been developed for the study of individual bones, and a high degree of sexual dimorphism is observed in measurements of the skull and, more specifically, of the facial skull in humans. Data on sexual dimorphism for the Bulgarian population are from direct measurements of skulls performed with conventional craniometric instruments. The aim of the study was to evaluate the sexual dimorphism of piriform aperture and facial skull dimensions obtained on 3D reconstructed MSCT scans in individuals of the South Bulgarian population. Methods: The study included three-dimensional skull models rendered from computed tomography head scans with landmarks acquired on them. Results: The results revealed that the mean values of all linear measurements of the piriform aperture and facial skull showed the presence of significant sexual dimorphism. Conclusions: With the development of imaging diagnostics, conditions have been created for performing more precise craniometric studies of people. Therefore, this gives the opportunity to update and supplement the available database for the Bulgarian population. It provides essential information for facial reconstruction, preoperative examination, surgical procedures and postoperative controls.