A study to estimate the cranial capacity in 100 dry human skull bones

Abstract

Background: Craniometry is the scientific measurement of the skull useful for anthropometry and forensic practice. Cranial index variations between and within population have been attributed to a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors. The morphometric and non-morphometric studies of human skulls are very helpful for identification of the sex and age by anthropologist and forensic practice. Cranial dimensions and Cranial indices are considered as simplest and most efficient way to indicate facial differences. Materials and Methods: The present study will constitute 100 dried adult skulls belonging to both sexes available in the department of anatomy and forensic medicine RRMC and H, MS Ramaiah medical college and Sapthagiri medical college, Bangalore. Results: The mean cranial index of the skulls were 76.989 which classifies them under mesocephalic type and we find a significant correlation between the cranial index and the length height and breadth height index with the p value coming below 0.001. Conclusion: The mean, SD of all the parameters to calculate is mentioned in table 1. The mean cranial index is 76.989 with the standard deviation of 5.8775, that of length height index was 76.991 with SD of 4.4615 And that of breadth height index was 100.268 with SD of 5.4350. There is a significant correlation between the cranial index, the length height and breadth height indices. With a correlation value of 0.681 for length height index and -0.635 for breadth height index. Both had a p value <0.001.