Head Shape and Cephalic Index Variations across Communities in Sriganganagar District, Rajasthan, India: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: The exploration of craniofacial relationships and their variations has historically played a significant role in differentiating racial groups within physical anthropology. The cephalic index is an important parameter for determining the race and sex of an individual of unknown identity. It has been utilised to categorise skulls into dolichocephalic (longheaded), mesocephalic (medium-headed) and brachycephalic (short-headed) types, which have historically contributed to racial classification frameworks. Human body dimensions are influenced by biological, geological, ecological, racial, sex and age factors. Aim: To determine the cephalic index and head shape in different communities of Sriganganagar, Rajasthan, India. Materials and Methods: This cross‑sectional study was conducted at the Department of Anatomy, Dr S. S. Tantia Medical College and Research Centre, Sriganganagar, Rajasthan, India, from September 2023 to March 2025. The study involved 1000 participants from five communities, with 200 individuals from each of Sikh, Arora, Jat, Brahman and Rajput groups, all aged 18-40 years. The cephalic index was calculated as the ratio of the maximum width of the head to the maximum length, multiplied by 100. Head measurements were taken using Vernier and spreading calipers. Data were subjected to statistical analysis to find out mean±SD and an Independent-samples t-test was used to compare two independent groups. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The study analysed 1000 participants (n=500 males, n=500 females) across five communities in Sriganganagar. Males had a higher mean head length (19.46±1.7486 cm) and width (15.03±1.4321 cm) than females (18.20±1.2428 cm, 13.79±1.14832 cm), with a significantly higher cephalic index in males (77.23±5.9420) than in females (75.76±5.2432; p-value <0.01). The highest mean cephalic index was observed in Sikhs (81.75; n=200) and the lowest in Rajputs (71.98; n=200). Mesocephalic was the most common overall, while dolichocephalic dominated among Rajputs (79.5%; n=159) and brachycephalic among Sikhs (51%; n=102). Conclusion: The mesocephalic head shape was most prevalent overall, with notable inter-community variations—dolichocephaly among Rajputs and brachycephaly among Sikhs—highlighting ethnic diversity in cranial morphology within the region.