Sexual Dimorphism in Human Body Hairs in North Indian Population

Personal identification is a fundamental component of forensic investigations, particularly in cases involving unidentified bodies and sexual offenses. Human hair, frequently encountered as trace evidence, can provide valuable information regarding sex differentiation through microscopic characteristics, especially medullary features. This cross-sectional autopsy-based study assessed sexual dimorphism in human body hair by evaluating hair shaft diameter, medullary diameter, and types of medulla in males and females from a North Indian population. Hair samples from the scalp, eyebrow, eyelashes, axilla, and pubic region were collected from 62 deceased individuals (30 males and 32 females) aged 18 years or older during medico-legal autopsies. Microscopic examination was performed using a compound microscope with an ocular micrometer. Quantitative variables were compared using the unpaired t-test, while qualitative variables were analysed using the chi-square or Fisher’s exact test. A statistically significant difference was observed between males and females in the mean diameter of eyebrow hair ( p < .01) and the mean diameter of the eyebrow medulla ( p = .01). No significant sex-based differences were noted in other body hair regions with respect to hair diameter, medullary diameter, or medullary pattern. Eyebrow hair demonstrated significant sex-related differences in hair shaft and medullary diameters and may have potential adjunctive value in sex estimation. However, these preliminary findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the small sample size and single-centre design. Larger multicentric studies are required before routine forensic application.