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The human skull is composed of several bones that come together to protect the brain and support the structures of the face. The junctions where these bones meet are called sutures.
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The cranium (skull) is the skeletal structure of the head that supports the face and protects the brain. It is subdivided into the facial bones and the brain case, or cranial vault. The facial bones underlie the facial structures, form the nasal cavity, enclose the eyeballs, and support the teeth of the upper and lower jaws.
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Intelligence is often thought to be linked to brain size, but the relationship is more complex than that. While brain size does correlate modestly with some abilities, like verbal skills, the connection is weaker for others, such as spatial reasoning. Other factors, like brain structure, also play crucial roles. For instance, despite Einstein's smaller-than-average brain, his parietal cortex, which is involved in spatial reasoning, was 15% wider, suggesting that neural density might matter...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 13, 2026

Midface Hypoplasia and Cranial Base Morphology in Syndromic Craniosynostosis: A Comparative Analysis Study Using a Predictive Regression Model
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The Remarkable Change in Euro-American Cranial Shape and Size.

Richard L Jantz1, Lee Meadows Jantz1

  • 11 Department of Anthropology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee.

Human Biology
|October 15, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Secular changes in cranial dimensions occurred in white Americans over 170 years, with skulls becoming higher, narrower, and larger. These changes tracked stature and infant mortality, suggesting both plasticity and selection may be involved.

Keywords:
cranial morphologysecular changeus population variation

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Area of Science:

  • Physical anthropology
  • Human evolution
  • Biometrics

Background:

  • Secular changes in human stature and weight are well-documented.
  • Cranial change over centuries is a focus in anthropology, but decadal changes are less studied.
  • Decadal cranial changes are often attributed to environmental plasticity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate secular changes in cranial vault dimensions in white Americans over 170 years.
  • To analyze cranial changes in relation to quality-of-life and environmental indicators.
  • To explore potential causes, including plasticity and selection, for observed cranial morphology shifts.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of cranial vault dimensions (glabello-occipital length, basion-bregma height, etc.) from 1,112 males and 668 females.
  • Data organized into 10-year birth cohorts from 1820 to 1990.
  • Statistical analysis (ANOVA) and graphical examination of secular trends, correlated with environmental and quality-of-life data.

Main Results:

  • Significant secular changes were observed in all measured cranial variables.
  • Basion-bregma height (BBH), maximum cranial breadth (XCB), and basion-nasion length (BNL) showed the strongest responses.
  • Crania became relatively higher, narrower, and larger with longer cranial bases; female changes were less pronounced than male changes.

Conclusions:

  • Observed cranial changes tracked secular trends in stature and infant mortality.
  • The novel environment of modern Americans suggests changes are unlikely due to pure plasticity alone.
  • Both environmental plasticity and natural selection, potentially linked to changes in infant mortality, likely contribute to secular cranial morphology shifts.