Cranial thickness in relation to age, sex and general body build in a Danish forensic sample

TY - JOUR

T1 - Cranial thickness in relation to age, sex and general body build in a Danish forensic sample

AU - Lynnerup, N

N1 - Keywords: Adolescent; Adult; Age Determination by Skeleton; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alcoholism; Body Constitution; Cephalometry; Denmark; Female; Forensic Anthropology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Sex Characteristics; Sex Determination (Analysis); Skull; Substance-Related Disorders

PY - 2001

Y1 - 2001

N2 - The cranial thickness was measured in 64 individuals (43 males, 21 females) autopsied at our institute. The thickness was measured by taking a biopsy with a trephine at four specific locations on the skull. Complete medical records and pathologic autopsy results were available. While none of the individuals had suffered from diseases affecting bone or bone metabolism as such, a large sub group consisted of individuals with a history of, and autopsy finds consistent with, chronic substance and alcohol abuse. There was no statistically significant difference in cranial thickness measures between this group and the rest of the material. Subsequent analyses failed to reveal any correlations between the cranial thickness and sex and age and height and weight of the individual. This is in accordance with most earlier studies, which likewise show no correlation, or only very faint trends, between cranial thickness and these parameters. This study, thus, adds to other studies showing that cranial thickness cannot be used in aging or sexing human remains. Likewise, in a forensic pathological setting, cranial thickness cannot be inferred from the individuals stature and build, which may be an issue in cases of interpersonal violence with cranial trauma.

AB - The cranial thickness was measured in 64 individuals (43 males, 21 females) autopsied at our institute. The thickness was measured by taking a biopsy with a trephine at four specific locations on the skull. Complete medical records and pathologic autopsy results were available. While none of the individuals had suffered from diseases affecting bone or bone metabolism as such, a large sub group consisted of individuals with a history of, and autopsy finds consistent with, chronic substance and alcohol abuse. There was no statistically significant difference in cranial thickness measures between this group and the rest of the material. Subsequent analyses failed to reveal any correlations between the cranial thickness and sex and age and height and weight of the individual. This is in accordance with most earlier studies, which likewise show no correlation, or only very faint trends, between cranial thickness and these parameters. This study, thus, adds to other studies showing that cranial thickness cannot be used in aging or sexing human remains. Likewise, in a forensic pathological setting, cranial thickness cannot be inferred from the individuals stature and build, which may be an issue in cases of interpersonal violence with cranial trauma.

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 11230945

SN - 0379-0738

VL - 117

SP - 45

EP - 51

JO - Forensic Science International

JF - Forensic Science International

IS - 1-2

ER -