CRANIAL AND ORBITAL MORPHOMETRY IN ADULT SKULLS: A COMPREHENSIVE REGION-SPECIFIC ANALYSIS OF MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION AND SEXUAL DIMORPHISM
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Keywords
Cranial morphometry; Orbital measurements; Cephalic index; Cranial variability; Sexual dimorphism; Anthropometry; Skull analysis; Orbital index.
Abstract
Background: Understanding craniofacial variation is essential for anatomical research, forensic identification, and clinical applications. The aim of this study to systematically analyze cranial and orbital morphometric parameters in adult Central Indian skulls, assess sexual dimorphism, and compare findings with national and international datasets to establish region-specific anthropometric reference standards. Materials & methods: This study provides a comprehensive morphometric assessment of cranial and orbital features in 120 adult skulls from a defined Central Indian population. Standardized measurements of cranial length, breadth, height, and cephalic index, along with orbital height, width, and index, were obtained using calibrated osteometric tools. Statistical analyses included descriptive metrics, independent t-tests, and chi-square tests. Results: The mean cranial measurements maximum length 178.42 mm, breadth 138.76 mm, and height 133.58 mm fell within recognized anthropometric norms. Significant sexual dimorphism was observed for all linear cranial dimensions (p < 0.05), whereas cephalic index showed no sex-related differences, indicating preserved proportional cranial shape across sexes. Cranial type distribution revealed predominance of mesocephaly (53.3%), with equal representation of dolichocephaly and brachycephaly (23.3% each), demonstrating substantial intra-population diversity. Orbital morphometry showed mean height and width of 32.84 mm and 39.72 mm, respectively, with significant sexual dimorphism in both parameters but not in orbital index. Orbital index values indicated a distribution across microseme (48.3%), mesoseme (30%), and hypsikonch (21.7%) categories, reflecting heterogeneous orbital architecture. Chi-square analysis confirmed non-uniform distribution of both cranial and orbital shapes. Conclusion: These findings enhance the existing anthropometric database by providing population-specific reference values and confirming consistent sexual dimorphism in cranial and orbital dimensions. The study offers valuable baseline data for forensic analysis, clinical evaluation, and regional craniofacial research.
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Dr. Santanu Parasar
Tutor, Department of Anatomy, Jawahar lal nehru medical College Bhagalpur, Bihar
Dr. Vimal Modi
Professor & HOD, department of Anatomy, Index medical College and hospital and RC, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
Dr. Rajendra Singh
Assistant Professor, department of Anatomy, Index medical College and hospital and RC, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
Nisha Muleva
Tutor, department of Anatomy, Index medical College and hospital and RC, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
Dr Atul Kumar jain
Tutor, government medical College, Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh
Dr. Srashti Sharma
Assistant Professor, Index Institute of Dental Sciences, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
Dr. Priyanshu
Post Graduate Student 3rd year, Department of Anatomy, Jawahar lal nehru medical College Bhagalpur, Bihar
