A Study of Gender Related Various Morphological Appearances of Lingula in Adult Dry Mandibles in Odisha

Abstract

Introduction: The lingula is a bony protrusion with a tongue-like form located on the inner surface of the ramus of the jaw. The classification of it has been categorized into four distinct shapes. The objects in question exhibit a triangular shape, truncated appearance, nodular characteristics, and a state of assimilation. The current report was conducted in order to determine the distribution, percentage, plus gender distribution of the lingula. This study, the subjects and methods employed were carefully selected and implemented to provide accurate and reliable results. A total of 70 adult dry human mandibles, comprising 140 sides, were included in this study. These specimens were obtained from the museum of the Anatomy Department and were maintained for research purposes. The several forms of the lingula were documented in a spreadsheet, taking into account their lateral orientation and sexual dimorphism. The proportions were computed manually. The findings indicate that the most prevalent form of lingula observed was triangular, accounting for 31% of the sample. This was followed by truncated at 27%, nodular at 23%, and assimilated at 19%. The truncated form was observed to be the most prevalent among males, accounting for 20.71% of cases. The most often observed form among females was triangular, accounting for 11.42% of the sample. In conclusion, it can be inferred that Lingula serves as a valuable anatomical landmark for professionals in the fields of anthropology, maxillofacial surgery, and forensic science.