Cranial Morphological Patterns Based on Cranial Index and Petrous Ridge-Midline Angle in Koreans: Implications for...

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Medical Imaging
• Human Anatomy

Background:

• Human skull morphology exhibits significant population-based diversity.
• Understanding cranial variations is crucial for anthropological and forensic applications.
• Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) offers a detailed method for skull analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively analyze cranial morphology in the Korean population.
• To identify specific anatomical characteristics using a multifaceted approach.
• To establish baseline data for clinical and forensic use.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 358 PMCT scans from the National Forensic Service (179 males, 179 females; average age 55.1 years).
• Calculation of the cranial index (CI) by dividing maximum cranial length by maximum cranial width.
• Measurement of the petrous ridge-midline angle (PMA) on cross-sectional images.

Main Results:

• The brachycranic skull type demonstrated the highest frequency based on both CI and PMA (p < 0.001).
• Cranial index showed no significant differences in frequency by sex or age.
• Petrous ridge-midline angle analysis revealed a higher frequency of the brachycranic type in men (p = 0.022) and significant age-related differences (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Cranial morphology in Koreans is characterized by a high prevalence of the brachycranic type.
• The petrous ridge-midline angle is a sensitive indicator of sex and age-related cranial variations.
• This research provides valuable foundational data for forensic and clinical applications in Korea.