An Integrative Assessment of Braincase Shape: an Informative Method for Typological and Sex Determination in the Norm and in Cranial Deformations

Currently, a number of approaches exist for determining braincase shape and its classification variants. Yet, classical methods fail to capture the full three-dimensional characteristics of a skull, whereas newer methods are exceedingly labor-intensive, demand substantial effort, and rely on specialized, rare, and highly costly instruments. The authors of the present article propose an integrative assessment of braincase shape, based on a combination of craniometric measurement results and cranioscopic characteristics.

The aim of the study was to investigate the capabilities of an integrative method for braincase shape assessment in revealing typological and sex-related patterns of its structure in the norm and in deformation.

Material and methods. The study was carried out on 631 documented skulls of individuals from the European part of Russia, representing the first and second periods of mature adulthood. Braincase shape was assessed by determining the cranial breadth-length and height-length indices, and by evaluating cranioscopic features related to sexual dimorphism and the presence of deformities, as well as descriptive forms of the cranial vault.

Results. Nine integrated craniometric forms of the braincase were examined, each associated with distinct cranioscopic characteristics, including those related to sex. The brachy-hypsicranial form of the neurocranium predominates (35.8%), followed in descending order by: brachy-orthocranic (20.8%), meso-orthocranic (20.3%), meso-hypsicranic (10.3%), meso-chamaecranic (5.9%), brachy-chamaecranic (2.7%), dolicho-chamaecranic (2.0%), dolicho-orthocranic (1.9%), and dolicho-hypsicranic (0.3%). The highest frequency of braincase deformities (46%) was found among the dolicho-chamaecranic group, attributed to craniosynostoses, platycrania, and plagiocephaly. The integrative assessment of braincase shape was shown to be effective in detecting the presence of deformities.

Conclusion. Assessment of braincase shape based solely on a single index is inadequate and insufficient. Classifying skulls by integrated craniometric forms yields more homogeneous samples than the use of only a single craniometric index (with Pearson's correlation coefficient rising to 0.8–0.9). Each of the nine described integrated forms of a skull exhibits specific cranioscopic features, primarily related to sex.

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