Morphometry of skulls from north indian population: Implications for ethnicity and race identification

Abstract

Introduction: Anthropometric studies have shown significant variations in the cranium and orbits between races and genders due to various factors such as genetics, race, hormones, nutritional differences, and environmental influences. The present study aims to record cranial and orbital dimensions and indices to classify skulls based on these measurements. Materials and Methods: Thirty-five human adult skulls were obtained from the dissecting laboratory and museum of Hind Institute of Medical Sciences, Safedabad. The orbital height, width, interorbital distance, maximum length, and width of the cranium were measured directly using a digital Vernier caliper. The skulls were then classified based on the orbital and cranial indices calculated. Results: The study found a mean orbital index of 83.42, classifying the skulls as mesoseme, and a cranial index of 73.15, classifying them as dolichocephalic. Conclusion: Basic data and records of morphometry of bones belonging to specific regions can help identify the ethnicity and race of a person. Understanding the correlation of dimensions of the orbital cavity and cranium is crucial in certain conditions, such as interpreting fossils, classification of skulls in forensic medicine, and discovering trends in evolution and racial differences. These findings may also aid in identifying unclaimed bodies in India, which are found in significant numbers yearly.

Keywords

• cranial index
• dolichocephalic
• mesoseme
• morphometry
• orbital dimensions