ABSTRACT
Background: Endocranial capacity is an important parameter in the study of human evolution, race and sex determination of skull. Diameters of foramen magnum are important because vital structures passing through it may endues compression and for sex determination of skulls. Correlation between endocranial capacity and area of foramen magnum was reported in mammals. This relation in human can be used to determine sex of damaged skulls. Methods: 150 dry skulls and 30 CT scan images of living subjects were studied. Endocranial capacity of skulls was measured by modified Breitinger’s method. Diameters of foramen magnum were measured by vernier calipers and its area was calculated by formula endocranial capacity of CT scan images measured by planimetry. Diameters and area of foramen were measured automatically. Results: The Mean endocranial capacity of male and female skulls were 1367.3ml and 1255.2ml respectively by modified Breitinger’smethod and by CT scan image planimetry method were 1347.1ml and 1130ml. The mean longitudinal diameter of foramen magnum in male was 33.4mm and female was 33.1mm and by CT Imaging method in male was 38.5mm and female was 35.2mm. The mean transverse diameter of foramen magnum in male was 28.5mm and female was 27.3mm and by CT Imaging method in male was 29.1mm and female was 27.6mm. Conclusion: Endocranial capacity, transverse diameter and area of foramen magnum of male skulls were greater than females. A significant positive correlation was observed between endocranial capacity and area of foramen magnum in male and female skulls, but highly significant positive correlation was observed when both sexes were considered together. Living subjects showed a significant positive correlation between endocranial capacity and area of foramen magnum when both sexes were considered together.
ABSTRACT
Background: Diameters of foramen magnum are important because vital structures passing through it and for sex determination of skulls. The dimensions of the foramen magnum are clinically important because vital structures passing through it may endure compression such as in cases of foramen magnum herniation, foramen magnum meningiomas and foramen magnum achondroplasia. The knowledge of foramen magnum diameters is needed to determine some malformations such as Arnold Chiari syndrome, which shows expansion of transverse diameter. Objectives: To study longitudinal diameter, transverse diameter and area of foramen magnum in relation to sex. Methods: 150 dry skulls and 30 CT scan images of living subjects were studied. Diameters of foramen magnum were measured by vernier calipers and its area was calculated by formula. Diameters and area of foramen were measured automatically. Results: The mean longitudinal diameter of foramen magnum in male was 33.4mm and female was 33.1mm and by CT Imaging method in male was 38.5mm and female was 35.2mm. The mean transverse diameter of foramen magnum in male was 28.5mm and female was 27.3mm and by CT Imaging method in male was 29.1mm and female was 27.6mm. Conclusion: longitudinal and transverse diameters and area of foramen magnum of male skulls were greater than females.
ABSTRACT
Background: Endocranial capacity is an important parameter in the study of human evolution, race and sex determination of skull. Endocranial capacity is an important parameter in the study of racial differences and in clinical practice for the study of the abnormalities of cranial size, it is one of the most important variable in the study of the human evolution. The objective of present study is to measure endocranial capacity of skulls. Materials and Methods: 150 dry skulls and 30 CT scan images of living subjects were studied. Endocranial capacity of skulls was measured by modified Breitinger’s method and CT scan imaging by planimetry method. Results: The Mean endocranial capacity of male and female skulls were 1367.3ml and 1255.2ml respectively by modified Breitinger’smethod and by CT scan image planimetry method were 1347.1ml and 1130ml. Conclusion: Endocranial capacity of male skulls were greater than females. The knowledge of endocranial capacities were help in neurosurgical, anthropology and forensic practice.