Anatomical Study of Cranial Capacity and Sexual Dimorphism in Dried Adult Human Skulls

Background: Cranial capacity, like other body dimensions, is influenced by geography, race, gender, and age. This study aims to explore the gender differences in cranial capacities in human skulls from the North Indian region. The primary objective is to measure cranial capacities and assess sexual dimorphism, which may assist in determining the sex of an individual from skeletal remains. Methods: It was made sure that all the skulls were intact and undamaged and included after sex determination based on the anatomical features. Skulls with the ambiguity of sex or those with damage were excluded from the study. The direct measurement of cranial capacity was done by sealing skull foramina with clay to prevent seed spillage. The Cranial cavities were filled with mustard seeds through the foramen magnum. The seeds were added gradually while shaking the skull to ensure full coverage. The seeds were then poured into a glass jar and transferred to a 1000 cc glass cylinder, where the volume was measured. Results: The important findings of this study regarding the skull dimensions showed that the mean length of male skulls was Male: 168.5 ± 7.8 mm and females: 161.2 ± 9.2 mm. The cranial volume in male skulls was 1324.19 ± 35.29 cc versus in Female skulls was 1167.32 ± 50.63 cc There were clear differences in skull dimensions between males and females, with males generally having longer skulls and larger cranial capacities. Within each sex group, there is considerable variation in skull dimensions, highlighting individual differences. Most skulls in both groups fall within the mesocephalic range, indicating a typical skull size. However, a smaller percentage of individuals exhibit microcephaly or megacephaly. Conclusion: Within the limitations of the current study, we found there is a statistically significant difference in cranial capacity between male and female skulls, with males generally having larger cranial volumes. Within each sex group, there is a considerable amount of variation in cranial capacity, indicating individual differences.