Study of the Shape of Palatal Rugae to Determine the Gender of a Person

Background: Medico-legal cases constitute a significant burden on healthcare systems and represent an important public health concern within any region. Proper assessment, documentation, and classification of these cases are essential for identifying regional patterns and trends. Such categorization provides valuable information to authorities and policymakers, enabling them to develop appropriate preventive strategies and regulations aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality associated with medico-legal incidents. Among the various aspects of medico-legal investigation, sex determination plays a crucial role in the identification of individuals, particularly in cases involving unknown or decomposed remains. Palatal rugae, the anatomical ridges present on the anterior part of the palate, have been reported to exhibit sexual dimorphism in several studies. To further evaluate their usefulness in sex determination, the present study was conducted at SSIMS & RC, Davangere, Karnataka. A total of 250 maxillary casts obtained from individuals aged 12–25 years, comprising 125 males and 125 females, were subjected to detailed analysis. The morphology and characteristics of palatal rugae were examined and compared between the sexes. The findings demonstrated distinct gender-specific variations in palatal rugae patterns, supporting their potential utility as a reliable adjunct in forensic sex determination.

Keywords: Medico-legal; identification; sex determination; palatal rugae; sexual dimorphism.