Is the trend of brachycephalization more advanced in females than males: An observational study on medical students in a rural medical college of Himachal Pradesh, North West Of India

Abstract

Introduction: The cephalic index (CI) was defined by Swidesh Professor of Anatomy Anders Retzius as a percentage of width to length in the skull. Head dimension changes follow a pattern in different populations. CI is used to determine the racial variation and sexual difference among the individual whose identity is unknown and to investigate the craniofacial deformities and brain development. Material and Methods: Himachali MBBS students of Dr. RPGMC, Tanda who satisfy the inclusion criteria were approached for consent to participate in the study. Detailed history, including birth history (including the place of birth), socio-economic history, and history of migration, was taken, and anthropometric examination was done by the investigator, as per the standard protocol. Results: We studied 77 medical students at Dr. RPGMC, Kangra at Tanda Himachal Pradesh, of which 40 (51.94%) were males and 37 (48.05%) were females. The mean age of all the students was 19.05 years. The mean head circumference of all the students was 54.31 ± 1.8 cm and minimum of 49.0 cm and maximum of 58.2 cm. Mean CI of the group was 77.85 ± 4.43. Male group had the mean CI of 76.96 ± 4.00. Female group had mean CI of 78.83±4.7 Most 18 (45%) of the male students had mesocephalic head shape and in female groups, 15 (40.5%) also had mesocephalic head shape. Discussion and Conclusion: From this study, we conclude that the dominant head shape is mesocephalic in both male and female, but the tendency of brachycephalization is more advanced in the female adult population of Himachal Pradesh.