Sexual dimorphism in the mandibles of a homogenius black population of Tanzania

Abstract

Mandibles of known age and gender from cadavers of Tanzanian Bantu population were studied to determine if the human mandible could be sexually dimorphic in a homogenous population. All mandibles were measured using electronic two-digit millimetre veneer calliper. All of the male (100%) and 96% of the female mandibles were positively sexed. The present study indicates that the mandible of the Tanzanian Bantu population possesses metric parameters that make it sexually dimorphic. More studies, involving other Tanzanian groups, might reveal racial or ethnic differences based on mandibular morphometrics.


Tanz. J. Sci. Vol. 28(2) 2002: 47-54