Gonial angle growth patterns according to age and gender

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Human Anatomy
• Craniometry

Background:

• Gonial angle differences by gender and age in humans are debated.
• Understanding these variations is crucial for forensic and anthropological studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate gender and age-related differences in gonial angle values.
• To test the hypothesis of a relationship between gonial angle, gender, and age in young Caucasian Mediterranean subjects.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of 266 Caucasian Mediterranean subjects.
• Gonial angle measurement using panoramic radiographs (Cranex Novus®, XMIND Novus® Soredex).
• Statistical analysis to compare angle values across age and gender groups.

Main Results:

• Significant gender differences observed in age groups ≤10, 16-20, 21-25, and 26-30 years.
• No significant gender difference in the 11-15 years age group.
• A significant negative correlation between age and gonial angle values (r=-0.365, p<0.001).
• Females under 10 showed higher gonial angles than males; males over 16 showed higher angles than females.

Conclusions:

• Gonial angle values exhibit distinct patterns related to age and gender in the studied population.
• These findings can aid in age and gender determination from human skeletal remains.
• The decrease in gonial angle slows or stops from 21 years onward.