A craniometric study of adult human skulls from Andhra Pradesh.

ABSTRACT

Background & Objectives: The human skull has been studied both metrically and non- metrically previously. Cranial index and other cranial indices are useful in differentiation of racial and gender difference. This study investigates cranial index of dried human skulls present in the department of Anatomy of three medical colleges present in three different region of Andhra Pradesh (India). Material and Methods: This study was carried out on 136 (77 male & 59 female) dry human skulls at Narayana Medical College, Nellore; Dr Pinnamaneni Siddhartha Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Foundation, Chinnaoutpalli, Gannavaram Mandal, Krishna District and Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar (A.P. INDIA). Out of these, 20 skulls were of known sex. By comparison with skulls of known sex, sex of remaining skulls was decided. Results: The mean of cranial index in males and female was 72.47 ± 5.13. The mean of cranial index in males was 70.18 ± 3.39 and in females was 74.96 ± 4.31. Interpretation and Conclusion: Cranial measurements and indices offer the simplest and fairly accurate way of judging the similarities and dissimilarities when comparing skulls. Craniometry has further application in clinical specialities such as plastic surgeries and oral surgery with craniofacial deformities.