IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences (IOSR-JDMS) e-ISSN: 2279-0853, p-ISSN: 2279-0861.Volume 19, Issue 3 Ser.12 (March. 2020), PP 60-66 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/0853-1903126066 www.iosrjournal 60 | Page Sexual Dimorphism On The Basis Of Palatine Rugae In Kashhmiri Population- An In Vitro Study Nazia Qurashi 1 , Faiz Ahmad 2 , Vina Vaswani 3 , Mohammad Aslam Bedar 4 Corresponding Author: Dr Nazia Qurashi PG Student, Oral Medicine & radiology. Yenepoya Dental college, Yenepoya University, Mangalore.575018. Abstract AIM: The study was aimed at establishing sexual dimorphism on the basis of variation in number and shape of palatine rugae in male and female sexes in Kashmiri population. MATERIALS & METHODS: A cross sectional, descriptive, in vitro type of study was carried out on old maxillary casts of patients visiting registered dental clinics in Kashmir. Maxillary dental casts made up of plaster of Paris, were obtained and were examined to fit into inclusion criteria. The sample included 65 male and 65 female casts. Casts from both the groups were given unique identification numbers and demographic data was hidden except for the sex of the person. Palatine rugae were marked using sharp graphite pencil. The rugae were analyzed for length and shape. For classifying the rugae on the basis of length, Lysell’s classification was implemented. Framentary rugae were also taken into consideration in addition to primary and secondary rugae. For classifying on the basis of shape of the rugae, Thomas & Kotze classification was implemented. Both male and female categories of casts were compared for differences. RESULTS: Number of Primary rugae, secondary rugae and total number of rugae were found to be higher in males as compared to females. Fragmentary rugae were found to be higher in females than in males. All the values of difference were found to be statistically insignificant. Although it was found that studying each palate reveals that each palate is unique in number, distribution and pattern of rugae. CONCLUSION: Studying palatal rugae in Kashmiri population suggested that sexual dimorphism was insignificant on the basis of palatine rugae in the study population. More studies with larger sample need to be done to validate the results of this study. Keywords:Palatine rugae, sexual dimorphism, kashmiri population. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Submission: 11-03-2020 Date of Acceptance: 25-03-2020 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Introduction Forensic anthropology is the field of study that deals with the analysis of human skeletal remains resulting from unexplained deaths. Experts in this discipline, because of their understanding of skeletal biology and associated subjects examine human bones with the goal of extracting as much information as possible about persons represented by skeletal remains and about the circumstances surrounding their deaths. Forensic anthropology is applied science that embraces both anthropological and forensic studies. Forensic anthropologists attempt to accomplish five main objectives in their work which includes firstly, the determination of ancestry, sex, age and living height from the skeleton of the person whose soft tissues are decomposed. Secondly the attempt to identify the nature of trauma and cause behind it(e g bullet injury etc).Thirdly, determination of postmortem interval by studying the decomposition pattern of individual. Fourthly, they assist in locating and recovering buried or surface remains because they are trained in archaeology. Fifthly, they use unique features found in all skeletons to identify the skeletal remains of deceased. 1 Forensic odontology is an offshoot of forensic science which has made great strides and has evolved as a very helpful speciality in the field of forensic science in the last half of century.It relies on sound knowledge of teeth and jaws possessed by dentists. It helps in establishment of person`s individuality by making use of multiple parameters like morphology of teeth, Craniofacial structures, palatine rugae, developmental anomalies etc. Proper identification of dead is required both for legal and humanitarian reasons. Palatine rugae,also known as Plicae palatinae transversae or Rugae palatina, are asymmetric and irregular ridges on the anterior part of the palatal mucosa on each side of the mid-palatine raphe, behind the incisive papilla.Palatine rugae have been studied in various fields including Anthropology, Forensic Odontology and Genetics. In the field of forensic odontology, study of palatine rugae is useful method of identification in both dentate as well as edentate individuals. Rugae vary in terms of shape, size and number. The rugae pattern