Analysis of craniofacial indices of dry crania in Southeast and Southsouth Nigeria

Objective: To determine the cranial index, upper facial index and frontal index of dry human crania in Nigeria.

Methods: A total of 150 dry adult male crania were studied in two geopolitical zones (Southeast and Southsouth) in Nigeria. Measurements were taken with spreading caliper and Vernier caliper. The following variables were measured: Maximum cranial length (MCL, g-op), Maximum cranial breadth (MCB, eu-eu), Minimum frontal breadth (MFB, ft–ft), Upper facial height (UFH, n-pr) and Bizygomatic breadth (BZB, zy-zy). From these variables, cranial index (CI), frontal index (FI) and upper facial index (UFI) were calculated. Data analysis was done with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 25).

Result: In the Southeast group, the values of MCL, MCB, BZB, UFH and MFB (in mm) were 181.4 (±10.3), 135.3 (±6.7), 135.3 (±6.0), 68.0 (±4.1) and 97.9 (±7.4) respectively. In the Southsouth group, the values of MCL, MCB, BZB, UFH and MFB (in mm) were 180.0 (±7.8), 133.9 (±6.7), 135.0 (±7.2), 67.5 (±6.6), and 98.1 (±4.9) respectively. There was no significant difference in these means between the Southeast and Southsouth groups. In the Southeast group, the mean values of CI, FI and UFI (in %) were 75.1 (±5.9), 72.7 (±5.9), and 50.5 (±3.4) respectively. In the Southsouth group the mean values of CI, FI and UFI (in %) were 74.5 (±4.0), 73.3 (±3.6) and 50.0 (±4.4) respectively. There was no significant difference in the means of the cranial indices among the two groups.

Conclusion: The crania in the southern part of Nigeria are dolichocephalic, eurymetopia and mesene type.