Anthropometric characteristics of craniums in residents of Qazvin, Iran and Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan: a comparative study

ABSTRACT

The purpose of present study is to compare anthropometric characteristics of the adult cranium between Iranian and Pakistani residents in two specific areas where people have special characteristics in the features of their heads and faces. This cross-sectional investigation was performed on 300 adult inhabitants of Qazvin, Iran and 356 residents of Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan. Participants were selected randomly and did not have any physical deformities or any previous history of trauma. Measurements were performed in an anatomical position on the cephalic length, cephalic breadth, and auricular height. Cephalic length, cephalic breadth and auricular height in females from Qazvin were significantly higher than those of DG Khan [p<0.05]. According to the findings, 82% of males and 58% of females from Qazvin were megacephalic while 25% of males and only 1% of females of DG Khan were megacephalic. The prominent cranium from in males from DG Khan was mesocephaly [41%], whereas it was microcephaly [85%] in females from DG Khan. The mean cephalic index was as follows Qazvin males [88.19 +/- 5.78] and females [86.54 +/- 3.23]; DG Khan males [84.11 +/- 3.7] and females [85.27 +/- 6.09]. For DG Khan residents, the cranial capacity was 1348.4 +/- 122 cm[3] for males and 1189.3 +/- 180.5 cm[3] for females. At the same time, the brain weight was 1395.5 +/- 126.2 g in males and 1230.9 +/- 186.8 g in females. This study shows the existence of differences in cranium dimensions between residents of Qazvin, Iran and DG Khan, Pakistan as well as in different regions of each country