Anat Biol Anthropol.  2023 Sep;36(3):95-102. 10.11637/aba.2023.36.3.95.

Classification of the Korean Cranial Using a Combination of Cranial Index (CI) and Petrous Ridge-midline Angle (PMA) Measurement Methods: A Cadaveric Study

• Kim D
• Park KR
• Cho J
• Choi YJ
• Lee M
• Kwon HW
• Choe Y
• Kim EJ
• Park J

• KMID: 2549049
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11637/aba.2023.36.3.95

Abstract

: The shape of the cranial bone is one of the elements that best represent the morphological characteristics of race in physical anthropology. It is known to be less influenced by environmental factors and more influenced by genetic factors. The purpose of this study is to analyze by applying the cranial index and the petrous ridgemidline angle method to classify the cranial shape of the Korean population. This analysis is to identify the forensic and anatomical characteristics of the Korean population in terms of gender and race, and to secure basic data. This study dissected 31 cadavers (16 males, 15 females) of the Korean population donated for educational and research purposes at the department of anatomy of a medical school in Korea. The mean age at death was 76.0±13.6 years (range 38~99 years). The cranial index (CI) was calculated by multiplying the ratio of the maximum cranial length to the maximum cranial width by 100. The petrous ridge-midline angle (PMA) measured the angle between the midline and the petrous ridge. In the CI measurement method, Brachycranic showed the highest frequency with 22 (71.0%) cases. In addition, mesocranic showed the frequency of 8 cases (25.8%), and Dolicocranic showed 1 case (3.2%). In the PMA cranial morphology classification, mesocranic showed the highest frequency with 19 cases (61.3%), brachycranic with 8 cases (25.8%), and dolicocranic with 4 cases (12.9%). There was no significant difference in the measurement results of CI and PMA by gender and PMA by body side. In conclusion, the case of brachycranic in CI and mesocranic in PMA showed the highest frequency, and this will be a basic data that can be used for forensic anthropology for individual estimation as well as clinically.

Keyword

Cranial classification; Cranial index; Petrous ridge-midline angle; Cadaveric study