Asian Journal of Research in Medicine and Medical Science

Sex estimation remains a fundamental aspect of forensic anthropology and medico-legal identification, particularly in situations involving incomplete skeletal remains. Cranial morphometric analysis using computerized tomography (CT) has emerged as a reliable and non-invasive approach for evaluating sexually dimorphic cranial traits. This study assessed the predictive value of selected cranial chord measurements (frontal chord, parietal chord, and occipital chord) for sex determination among individuals in Edo and Delta States, Nigeria, using computerized tomographic images. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted for the study. Frontal chord, parietal chord, and occipital chord measurements were extracted from CT images and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 27.0. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, and discriminant function analysis. The findings revealed sexual dimorphism across all three cranial chord parameters, with males demonstrating significantly higher mean values compared to females (p < 0.001). Discriminant function analysis demonstrated strong differentiation between male and female skulls (Wilks’ Lambda = 0.117, p < 0.001), with an overall classification accuracy of 99.4%. The study showed that frontal chord, parietal chord, and occipital chord exhibited high standardized discriminant coefficients, indicating their strong predictive capacity for sex determination. However, the study is limited by its regional sample scope and reliance on available CT scans, which may restrict the generalizability of the findings to other populations. These findings further validate the utility of CT-based cranial morphometry as an accurate and non-invasive method for sex estimation in forensic and anthropological investigations.