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Publisher: Peytchinski Publishing Ltd.
ISSN: 1312-773X (Online)
Issue: 2025, vol. 31, issue4
Subject Area: Medicine
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DOI: 10.5272/jimab.2025314.6586
Published online: 06 November 2025
Original article
J of IMAB. 2025 Oct-Dec;31(4):6586-6590
THREE-DIMENSIONAL MSCT ANALYSIS OF SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN FACIAL SKULL AND PIRIFORM APERTURE MORPHOLOGY IN SOUTH BULGARIA
Zlatizara Todorova1
, Ferihan Popova1, Irina Angelova2, Zdravka Harizanova1, Iva Naydenova3, Tsvetan Tsvetanov4,
1)Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
2)Department of Imaging Diagnostics, Dental Allergology and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
3)Department of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Technical University of Sofia, Branch Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
4)Department of Dental, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dental Faculty, Medical University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
ABSTRACT:
Purpose: Human skeleton exhibits varying degrees of sexual dimorphism – the pelvic bones, limbs long bones and the skull are the most frequently studied. Methods have been developed for the study of individual bones, and a high degree of sexual dimorphism is observed in measurements of the skull and, more specifically, of the facial skull in humans. Data on sexual dimorphism for the Bulgarian population are from direct measurements of skulls performed with conventional craniometric instruments. The aim of the study was to evaluate the sexual dimorphism of piriform aperture and facial skull dimensions obtained on 3D reconstructed MSCT scans in individuals of the South Bulgarian population.
Methods: The study included three-dimensional skull models rendered from computed tomography head scans with landmarks acquired on them.
Results: The results revealed that the mean values of all linear measurements of the piriform aperture and facial skull showed the presence of significant sexual dimorphism.
Conclusions: With the development of imaging diagnostics, conditions have been created for performing more precise craniometric studies of people. Therefore, this gives the opportunity to update and supplement the available database for the Bulgarian population. It provides essential information for facial reconstruction, preoperative examination, surgical procedures and postoperative controls.
Keywords: sexual dimorphism, piriform aperture, facial skull, MSCT, 3D reconstruction, South Bulgaria,
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Please cite this article as: Todorova Z, Popova F, Angelova I, Harizanova Z, Naydenova I, Tsvetanov T. Three-Dimensional MSCT Analysis of Sexual Dimorphism in Facial Skull and Piriform Aperture Morphology in South Bulgaria. J of IMAB. 2025 Oct-Dec;31(4):6586-6590. [Crossref - 10.5272/jimab.2025314.6586]
Correspondence to: Zlatizara Todorova, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Plovdiv; 15A, Vasil Aprilov Blvd., Plovdiv 4000, Bulgaria; E-mail: zlatizara.todorova@mu-plovdiv.bg
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Received: 10 July 2025
Published online: 06 November 2025