Significance of cephalic index in race determination

ABSTRACT

Significance of cephalic index regarding our population is to identify the category of our race, into which type of cephalic index does it fall. To categorize our community into a type of population, whether they fall into dolicocephalic, mesocephalic or brachycephalic cranial index. Descriptive study This study was conducted at the Anatomy and Forensic departments of Aziz Fatimah Medical College, Faisalabad and Anatomy department of Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad from October 2011 to March 2012. This research was conducted upon 100 dried skulls, which were of adult size including both males and females. Measurements were noted making use of Vernier,s caliper. Length of skulls was measured as from summit of glabella anteriorly to the farthest occipital point, posteriorly. Breadth of skulls was measured as a line drawn perpendicular to maximal length of skull i.e. from the points of maximum parietal convexities. Then cephalic index was calculated for each skull. In our study we measured the maximum length and maximum breadth of 100 skulls and worked out the cranial indices of each skull present in our sample. We also calculated the percentage of different categories of skulls like dolicocephalic, mesocephalic and brachycephalic in our sample. Moreover, we also calculated the mean value, standard deviation, confidence interval CI, mean standard error, degree of freedom df, t and p values of the cranial indices, using SPSS software. Punjabi population in Pakistan is predominantly Dolicocephalic as shown in our study. This study can be used for future references in race determination