Cephalic Index of Population of Rayalaseema Region of Andhra Pradesh: A CT based Study

Abstract

Identification of an individual is one of the many challenges that a physical anthropologist has to face especially following mass disasters. Skeletal remains are of immense use to determine the identity of an individual, more so when other modes of identity like fingerprints are not available. Cephalic index is one such parameter which is helpful in such situations. Previewing the various studies on cephalic index, this study was done to find out the distribution of the cephalic index in the population of Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. The study was carried out using axial slice computer tomography of head of 500 subjects (250 male and 250 female), age ranging between 21 to 40 years. The mean cephalic index was found to be 78.21 ± 4.02. There was a predominance of mesocephalic phenotype in males and brachycephalic phenotype in females indicating a significant sex difference. The data of the present study is useful for forensic medicine experts, plastic surgeons, anatomists, anthropologists, for clinical and in research studies and in designing various orthopedic and physiotherapy equipments of head.