Sexual Dimorphism of Foetal Sheep Skulls During the Second and Third Periods of Pregnancy.

Abstract

The skull is a very important structure, and it is the centre of many vital functions. There have been many studies on the skulls of mammals, but not many studies on the prenatal period. The aim of this study is to examine developmental sheep foetal skulls from the last two trimesters of pregnancy. A total of 40 sheep foetuses, 20 in the 2nd trimester (10 females and 10 males) and 20 in the 3rd trimester (10 females and 10 males), were examined. On the basis of CT scans of foetal skulls, morphometric measurements were performed by creating a three-dimensional (3D) model. Total skull length was statistically significant between males and females in the third trimester (p < 0.01). In the second trimester, the tooth length parameter was statistically significant between males and females (p < 0.01). In the second trimester, M3 was found to be statistically significant in the sheep foetus mandible (p < 0.01). It was determined that there was developmental sexual dimorphism between males and females.