Difference Between Male and Female Skeleton

calendarAug 9, 2022 · 5 min read  ·
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The main difference between male and female skeleton is that the pelvic cavity of the male skeleton is narrower and less roomy whereas the pelvic cavity of the female skeleton is wider and deeper. Furthermore, the male skeleton bears broad shoulders and a longer rib cage while the female skeleton bears narrow shoulders and a shorter rib cage.

Male and female skeleton are the two types of skeletons classified based on the sex. Both types of skeletons are similar in structure and perform mostly similar functions.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is a Male Skeleton
     – Definition, Pelvis, Skull
2. What is a Female Skeleton
     – Definition, Structure, Function
3. What are the Similarities Between Male and Female Skeleton
     – Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Male and Female Skeleton
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Female Skeleton, Male Skeleton, Pelvis, Rib Cage, Shoulders, Skull

Difference Between Male and Female Skeleton - Comparison Summary

Difference Between Male and Female Skeleton – Comparison in Tabular Form

What is a Male Skeleton

A male skeleton is the much larger and heavier type of human skeleton. The two main distinctions between male and female skeletons are in the structure of the pelvis and the skull.

Male Pelvis

The male pelvis is thicker, heavier, and has a narrow pelvic cavity. Other characteristic features of the male pelvis are listed below.

  • Heart-shaped pelvic inlet
  • Shorter pelvic outlet
  • Deep false pelvic
  • Larger and heavier sacrum
  • Narrow pubic arch
  • Round obturator foramen
  • Large acetabulum
  • Narrow greater sciatic notch inverted to 70 degrees
  • Less movable coccyx
  • Closer anterior superior iliac spine
  • Preauricular sulcus is absent
  • Ventral arch is absent
  • Subpubic angle is narrowDifference Between Male and Female Skeleton

    Figure 1: Female and Male Pelvis

Male Skull

  • Forehead slopes backward
  • Bigger and more pronounced nuchal crest
  • Square-shaped orbits
  • Thicker supraorbital margin
  • More prominent glabella and the superciliary arches
  • More prominent mastoid process
  • Square-shaped mandible body

What is a Female Skeleton

Female skeleton is lighter than the male skeleton, and is especially adapted to facilitate the development of the human embryo. The characteristics of the pelvis and the skull of the female skeleton are described below.

Female Pelvis

The main characteristic feature of the female pelvis is its wider and deeper nature, making it roomier as required by the womb. Other features of the female pelvis are described below.

  • Pear-shaped pelvic inlet
  • Large pelvic outlet
  • Shallow false pelvis
  • Shorter, wider, and thinner sacrum
  • Wider pubic arch
  • Oval-shaped obturator foramen
  • Small acetabulum
  • Wider greater sciatic notch inverted to 90 degrees
  • More movable coccyx
  • Anterior superior iliac spine is far
  • Thin iliac tuberosity
  • Preauricular sulcus is present
  • Ventral arch is present
  • Subpubic angle is wideMain Difference - Male and Female Skeleton

    Figure 2: Female (right) and Male (left) Skull

Female Skull

  • Vertical forehead
  • Barely notorious nuchal crest
  • Rounded orbits
  • Thin supraorbital margin
  • Less prominent glabella and superciliary arches
  • Less prominent mastoid process
  • Rounded mandible

Similarities Between Male and Female Skeleton

  • Male and female skeleton are the two types of skeletons classified based on the sex.
  • Both skeletons are made up of 206 bones.
  • They mainly contain a skull, rib cage, pelvis, and limbs.
  • The main function of both skeletons is the provide support to the body while allowing movement.
  • Biological sex of an adult skeleton can be estimated by measuring the pelvic bones with 95% of accuracy, with 83% accuracy by measuring the skull, and with 80% accuracy by measuring the long bones.

Difference Between Male and Female Skeleton

Definition

Male skeleton refers to the endoskeleton of biological males, consisting of large, more robust bones and joint surfaces, and more bone development at muscle attachment sites while female skeleton refers to the endoskeleton of biological females with less angular bones of the skull, shorter breastbone, and slimmer wrists.

Development

Male skeleton completes the development sooner, at about the age of 18, while the female skeleton completes the development later, at about age 21.

Height

Furthermore, the male skeleton is generally long while the female skeleton is shorter than the male skeleton by 9%.

Characteristics of Bones

Also, the bones of the male skeleton are large and strong while the bones of the female skeleton are small in size and strength.

Skull, Arms, and Legs

Moreover, the male skeleton has a large skull and long arms and legs while the female skeleton has a small skull and shorter arms and legs when compared to the male skeleton.

Skull

Additionally, the male skull is thicker while the female skull is thinner. Also, male skull has a bony ridge on the brow line and a heavier jaw bone.

Shoulders

Also, the male skeleton has broad shoulders while the female skeleton has comparatively narrow shoulders.

Rib Cage

The rib cage of the male skeleton is long while the rib cage of the female skeleton is comparatively shorter.

Torso

Further on, the male skeleton has a shorter torso and long legs while the female skeleton has a longer torso, giving more space to reproductive organs and shorter legs.

Pelvis

In addition, the pelvis of the male skeleton is heavy and thick while the pelvis of the female skeleton is light and thin.

Pelvic Cavity

Besides, the pelvic cavity of the male skeleton is narrow while the pelvic cavity of the female skeleton is wider and deeper.

Sacrum

The sacrum of the male skeleton is long, narrow, and concave while the sacrum of the female skeleton is short, nearly flat, with forward curvature in the lower part.

Coccyx

The coccyx of the male skeleton is less movable while the coccyx of the female skeleton is more movable.

Legs

The legs of the male skeleton are straighter due to the narrow pelvis while the legs of the female skeleton are slanted.

Joint Surface

The male skeleton has a large joint surface while the female skeleton has a small joint surface.

Conclusion

The male skeleton is heavier and possesses a narrow pelvic cavity, broader shoulders, and long rib cage. On the other hand, the female skeleton is less heavy and possesses a wider pelvic cavity, narrow shoulders, and a shorter rib cage. Thus, the main difference between male and female skeleton is the pelvic cavity, shoulders, and the rib cage.

Reference:

1. “Skeletal System – Labeled Diagrams of the Human Skeleton.” InnerBody, Available Here

Image Courtesy:

1. “Figure 38 01 12” By CNX OpenStax (CC BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia 
2. “Female(R),Male(L) Cranium,Ant norm” By Realmastery – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia

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