1International Medical School, Management & Science University, 40100, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
2Perdana University Graduate school of Medicine, Perdana University, Malaysia
*Corresponding Author Dr. Venkata Pavan Kumar Lecturer, International Medical School, Management & Science University, University Drive, Seksyen 13, 40100, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Online published on 21 August, 2020.
Background and aims: Cephalic index is an important tool in anthropology in measuring the sizes of skull to determine their origin and gender. The specificity of cephalic index in different population enables to evaluate the variance in different races in Malaysia. The main purpose of this study was to identify the three main groups which are dolichocephalic, brachycephalic and mesocephalic among Malaysians which had been narrowed down to MSU students. Materials and methods: A total of 300 healthy individuals without cranial or facial deformities have been recruited with 100 individuals representing each of the three races. Their head length and head width were calculated using a caliper to find out their respective cephalic indexes. Results: The study showed that males of all three races have higher skull dimensions than those of the female participants. Also, it is determined that majority of Malaysian adults are Hyperbrachycephalic, while only few subjects were found to be brachycephalic and mesocephalic. Conclusion: The study shows that most Malaysians are hyperbrachycephalic (short, broad headed) with only a slight minority being mesocephalic (medium dimensions).
Head Length, Head Width, Cephalic Index, Hyperbrachycephalic, Mesocephalic
