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Updated: Apr 13, 2026
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Midface Hypoplasia and Cranial Base Morphology in Syndromic Craniosynostosis: A Comparative Analysis Study Using a Predictive Regression Model
Published on: November 4, 2025
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Sex differences in adult craniofacial parameters
Suat Avci1, Tarkan Ergun2, Erdinc Aydin3
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baskent University, Saray Mah. Yunusemre Cad. No. 1, Alanya, 07400, Antalya, Turkey. suat_avci2002@yahoo.com.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy : SRA
|May 4, 2015
Summary
Men exhibit distinct craniofacial measurements compared to women, with significant differences observed in auditory tube and nasopharynx dimensions. These sex-based variations in craniofacial morphology persist into adulthood.
Area of Science:
- Anthropology
- Anatomy
- Radiology
Background:
- Craniofacial morphology exhibits variations across populations and sexes.
- Understanding sex-based differences in craniofacial parameters is crucial for accurate clinical and research applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare normal adult male and female craniofacial parameters.
- To evaluate the associations of sex and intercochlear distance with other craniofacial parameters.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of two-dimensional computed tomography scans from 60 normal adults (30 men, 30 women).
- Measurement of various craniofacial parameters, including auditory tube dimensions, mastoid length, intercochlear distance, and nasopharynx sagittal area.
- Assessment of Körner septum presence and thickness.
Main Results:
- Men demonstrated significantly greater mean lengths of the osseous and cartilaginous auditory tubes, mastoid length, and intercochlear distance compared to women.
- Men also showed larger sella to posterior nasal spine distance, sella to basion distance, and nasopharynx sagittal area.
- Intercochlear distance correlated with mastoid depth, pharyngeal opening distance, sella to nasion distance, and nasopharynx sagittal area, while inversely correlating with the auditory tube angle. Körner septum was more frequent and thicker in men.
Conclusions:
- Significant sex-based differences exist in several craniofacial parameters, particularly vertical dimensions, starting from childhood and continuing into adulthood.
- These findings underscore the importance of considering sex in craniofacial morphologic studies.
- Results from studies lacking sex-matched groups should be interpreted with caution.
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