STUDY OF CEPHALIC INDEX AMONG THE STUDENTS OF MARATHWADA REGION

Address for Correspondence: Dr. Syed Imran Sultan, Department of Anatomy, Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College Nanded, Maharashtra, India, E-Mail: drsyedimran86@gmail.com Background: Cephalic Index is a useful anthropological tool for analysis of racial differences in a population and also to ascertain sexual dimorphism. Comparison of changes in cephalic index between parents, offspring’s and siblings can give information about the genetic transmission of the inherited characters. Materials and Methods: This study was carried on 200 medical students (100 male and 100 female students) of Marathwada region. The Cephalic Index was measured using Hrdlicka’s Method. Result: Mean Cephalic Index for male student was 79.12 + 6.02 and for female student was 78.67 + 6.45. Mean cephalic index irrespective of gender was found to be 78.89 + 6.23. Conclusion: In Marathwada region of Maharashtra, there is a pre dominance of mesocephalic head. The data presented in the present study can be useful for comparison among the regional differences and in forensic medicine and anthropology for comparative and evolutionary studies.

inherited characters [2].The Cephalometric results can also be of great assistance while evaluating patients in various fields of medicine like Medical Imaging, Paediatrics, Craniofacial Surgery and also for studying growth trends in various castes/races within a defined geographic zone.Anthropometric study of head is useful in designing various equipment's of head and face like helmets, head phones, goggles, etc. by formulating standard sizes [3].
In the present study we calculated the cephalic index of the medical students of Marathwada Anthropometric measurements are important tool for comparison and to achieve a more objective racial assessment.Standardised cephalometric records enable diagnostic comparison between patients and the normal population [1].Cephalic Index is a useful anthropological tool for analysis of racial differences in a population and also to ascertain sexual dimorphism.Comparison of changes in cephalic index between parents, offspring's and siblings can give information about the genetic transmission of the region of Maharashtra and compared with previous studies.Anthropometric measurements are important tool for comparison and to achieve a more objective racial assessment.Standardised cephalometric records enable diagnostic comparison between patients and the normal population [1].Cephalic Index is a useful anthropological tool for analysis of racial differences in a population and also to ascertain sexual dimorphism.Comparison of changes in cephalic index between parents, offspring's and siblings can give information about the genetic transmission of the inherited characters [2].The Cephalometric results can also be of great assistance while evaluating patients in various fields of medicine like Medical Imaging, Paediatrics, Craniofacial Surgery and also for studying growth trends in various castes/races within a defined geographic zone.Anthropometric study of head is useful in designing various equipment's of head and face like helmets, head phones, goggles, etc. by formulating standard sizes [3].
In the present study we calculated the cephalic index of the medical students of Marathwada region of Maharashtra and compared with previous studies.sagittal plane.Euryon: The lateral most point placed on the side of the head.All the measurements were taken with the subject sitting in chair, in relaxed condition & the head in the anatomical position.The maximum head length was measured as the maximum antero-posterior diameter by spreading callipers from glabella to inion.The maximum head breadth was measured as the maximum transverse diameter between two euryons using spreading callipers.All measurements were taken in centimetres and to an accuracy of 0.10.The cephalic indices were calculated by multiplying the head breadth with 100 and dividing it with the head length.Cephalic Index = Maximum head Breadth x 100

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The present study was carried out with 200 medical students (100 male and 100 female students) of Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College, Nanded, Marathwada region, Maharashtra.Medical students were selected because of the easy availability.The age of the students ranged from 18 -23 years.The written consent was obtained from each and every student before taking the measurements.Any student having physical deformity, craniofacial trauma were excluded from the study.The Hrdlicka's method was used for assessing the Cephalic Index Depending upon this index the types of head shapes were classified as follows [5]: All the data were analysed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS software by using unpaired 't' test.Mean and Standard deviation were calculated. in male and female students taken together is 13.89 + 0.79.(Table 2) The mean of Cephalic Index in Male students is 79.12 + 6.02 and in female is 78.67 + 6.45.The average of Cephalic Index in male and female students taken together is 78.89 + 6.23.The Mean Cephalic Index of students of Marathwada region in our study lies in mesocephalic range.(Table3) In the present study, we found that 43 students (21.5 %) shows dolichocephalic range, 79 students (39.5 %) shows mesocephalic range, 47 students (23.5 %) shows brachycephalic range and 31 students (15.5 %) shows hyperbrac hycepahlic range.(Table 4, Graph 1).The variations in the cephalic indices between and within populations have been attributed to a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors [6].In the present study, the mean cephalic index in males (79.12) is higher than the studies of Vishal The variations of head shape may be due to hereditary factor or environmental which may act as secondary effect [15].The kind of diet taken could also play a role in influencing the dominant head shape.Head shapes can also change from one generation to the other 16 .

DISCUSSION
conclude in Marathwada region of Maharashtra, there is a pre dominance of mesocephalic head, with mean cephalic index of 78.89 + 6.23 (79.12 + 6.02 in males and 78.67 + 6.45 females).The data presented in the present study can be useful for comparison among the regional differences and in forensic medicine and anthropology for comparative and evolutionary studies.

CONCLUSION Conflicts of Interests: None
[4].Following anatomical landmarks were marked and defined: Glabella: A point above the nasal root between the eyebrows and intersected by mid-sagittal plane.Inion: The distal most point placed on the external occipital protuberance in the mid-

Table 1 :
Gender wise distribution of Maximum HeadLength in study sample.
The mean of Maximum head length in Male students is 17.88 + 1.03 and in female is 17.46 + 1.07.The average of maximum head length in male and female students taken together is 17.67 + 1.07.(Table1)RESULTSThemean of Maximum head breadth in Male students is 14.10 + 0.73 and in female is 13.69 + 0.80.The average of maximum head breadth Syed Imran Sultan, Vishal M. Tekale, C. V. Diwan.STUDY OF CEPHALIC INDEX AMONG THE STUDENTS OF MARATHWADA REGION.

Table 2 :
Gender wise distribution of Maximum HeadBreadth in study sample.

Table 3 :
Gender wise distribution Cephalic Index in study sample.

Table 4 :
Gender wise classification of Head shape in study sample.
Graph 1: Gender wise classification of Head shape in study sample.
Salve et al (75.68),Vaishali kiran et al (77.92),MeghnaMishra et al (75.84) and Sunita Patro et al (77.28) which shows mesocephalic range in the above studies.Whereas it is lower than the studies of Anupama Mahajn et al (81.34),Swapnil khair et al (81.28),KananUttekar et al (80.88),ShemaNair et al (81.24) and K. Lakshmi kumara et al (80.21) which shows brachycephalic range.In the present study, the mean cephalic index in females (78.67) is higher than the studies of VishalSalve et al (78.20),Swapnil khair et al (75.22) and Sunita Patro et al (78.38) which shows mesocephalic range in the above studies.Whereas it is lower than the studies of Anupama Mahajan et al (85.75),Vaishali Kiran et al (80.85),Kanan Uttekar et al (82.48),Shema Nair et al (80.31)Meghna Mishra et al (79.05) and K. Lakshmi Kumara et al (79.25), which shows brachycephalic range in studies of Anupama Mahajan et al, Vaishali Kiran et al, Kanan Uttekar et al and Shema Nair et al.In the present study the Mean Cephalic Index in overall study sample (78.89) is higher than the studies of Vishal Salve et al (76.94),Swapnil Khair et al (78.48),Meghna Mishra et al (77.79) and Sunita Patro et al (77.75) which shows the mesocephalic range in the above studies.Whereas, it is lower than Anupama Mahajan et al (85.53),Kanan Uttekar et al (81.00) and Shema Nair et al (81.21) which shows the brachycephalic range.