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Updated: Jun 11, 2025
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Craniofacial Measurements and Indices Trends in Latvian Children Aged 1-15
Arta Grabcika1, Dzintra Kazoka1, Janis Vetra1
1Department of Morphology, Institute of Anatomy and Anthropology, Rīga Stradiņš University, LV 1010 Riga, Latvia.
Insights
This study tracked craniofacial measurements in Latvian children aged 1-15. Findings show growth trends and common head and face shapes, offering insights into pediatric development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric anthropology and craniofacial development.
- Forensic science and clinical applications of anthropometric data.
Background:
- Craniofacial development is crucial for pediatric growth and impacts various scientific and clinical fields.
- Understanding typical craniofacial proportions is essential for assessing normal development and identifying potential anomalies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess trends in craniofacial measurements and indices in Latvian children aged 1 to 15 years.
- To provide normative data on head and facial proportions for a Latvian pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- Anthropometric measurements of head and face dimensions were taken from 375 children.
- Cephalic Index (CI) and Prosopic Index (PI) were calculated to analyze cranial and facial proportions.
- Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson Chi-square, and Spearman correlation.
Main Results:
- Head circumference, length, and width increased with age, with boys generally showing larger dimensions.
- Mesocephaly (52.85%) and hypereuryprosopic (45.54%) were the most prevalent head and facial types, respectively.
- Cranial and facial indices showed age-related variations, with inverse correlations in younger children but not in older ones.
Conclusions:
- The study offers valuable data on craniofacial development in Latvian children.
- It highlights specific measurement trends, common head and facial types, and their variations by age and sex.
- These findings contribute to the understanding of pediatric craniofacial morphology.
Abstract:
Craniofacial development is a critical aspect of pediatric growth, influencing fields such as physical anthropology, pediatrics, forensic sciences, and clinical practice.
Objectives:
This study aimed to assess the trends in craniofacial measurements and indices in Latvian children aged 1-15.
Methods:
The anthropometrical measurements (head circumference, length, width, facial length, and width) were conducted on 375 children according to the guidelines by R. Martin, K. Saller, and J. Prīmanis at the Anthropology laboratory at the Institute of Anatomy and Anthropology, Rīga Stradiņš University. The cephalic index (CI) and the facial or prosopic index (PI) were calculated, allowing for a detailed examination of cranial and facial proportions. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including the Pearson Chi-square test and the Spearman correlation coefficient.
Results:
The findings revealed a consistent increase in head circumference with age, with boys generally having slightly larger heads than girls. The boys and girls exhibited growth in head length and width, particularly noticeable between 1 and 2 years of age. Facial length and width increased with age, with boys typically having longer facial lengths and broader faces than girls. The most common cephalic index category is mesocephaly, which accounts for 52.85% of the population, followed by dolichocephaly at 32.94%. Brachycephaly and hyperbrachycephaly are less prevalent, representing 11.36% and 2.86% of the population. Regarding the facial index categories, hypereuryprosopic is the most prevalent, representing 45.54% of the population, closely followed by euryprosopic at 43.74%. Mesoprosopic is significantly less common, representing only 9.95%. The least common categories are leptoprosopic and hyperleptoprosopic, with prevalences of 0.64% and 0.12%, respectively. The indices analysis showed variations across age groups, with dolichocephaly being more common at younger ages and decreasing over time. Brachycephaly and hyperbrachycephaly remained relatively stable or decreased slightly with age, while mesocephaly displayed less variation. The relationship between the FI and CI in younger age groups was typically weak to moderate and inverse, with a significance level of p < 0.001 or p < 0.01. However, no meaningful correlation was observed in older children aged 14-15.
Conclusions:
This study provides valuable insights into the craniofacial development of Latvian children, highlighting the measurements, cranial and facial types, and their variations across age groups.
