Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of Palatal Rugae Patterns in Bhopal Division: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional...

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Human Identification
• Craniometry

Background:

• Palatal rugae, the unique ridges on the roof of the mouth, are increasingly recognized for their potential in human identification.
• Existing methods for gender determination often rely on skeletal morphology or dental characteristics, which may not always be available or conclusive.
• Understanding variations in palatal rugae patterns between sexes can offer supplementary identification markers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare palatal rugae patterns between males and females in the Bhopal Division population.
• To determine if specific rugae characteristics can serve as reliable indicators for gender differentiation.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 104 individuals (47 males, 57 females) from the Bhopal Division population was randomly selected.
• Both metric and non-metric characteristics of palatal rugae were meticulously documented.
• Statistical analysis, including two-sample t-tests and chi-square tests, was performed with a significance level of 5%.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant difference was found in the total number of palatal rugae between genders.
• Males exhibited a significantly higher mean number of primary rugae (P = 0.038).
• Females showed a significantly higher mean number of vertical (P < 0.001) and fragmentary rugae (P = 0.004).

Conclusions:

• Palatal rugae patterns present a promising characteristic for gender differentiation.
• These findings suggest rugae analysis can serve as a valuable supplementary tool alongside traditional methods like cranial anthropometry and dental analysis for identification purposes.