Original article Non metric traits of the skull and their role in anthropological studies Kaur, J.1*, Choudhry, R.2, Raheja, S.3 and Dhissa, NC.4 1Doctor, Master of Science in Anatomy, Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, ESIC Dental College, Rohini, New Delhi 2Doctor, Master of Science in Anatomy, Ex Head of the Department of Anatomy, VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi 3Doctor, Master of Science in Anatomy, Professor, Department of Anatomy, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi 4Doctor, Master of Science in Anatomy, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, ESIC Dental College, New Delhi *E-mail: [email protected] Abstract Anthropological and paleoanthropological studies concerning the so called epigenetic cranial traits or non-metrical cranial traits have been increasing in frequency in last ten years. For this type of study, the trait should be genetically determined, vary in frequency between different populations and should not show age, sex and side dependency. The present study was conducted on hundred dry adult human skulls from Northern India. They were sexed and classified into groups of various non metrical traits. These traits were further studied for sexual and side dimorphism. None of the traits had shown statistically significant side dimorphism. Two of them (Parietal foramen and Exsutural mastoid foramen) however had shown statistically significant sexual dimorphism. Since the dimorphism is exhibited by very less number of traits, it can be postulated that these traits are predominantly under genetic control and can be effectively used for population studies. Keywords: double hypoglossal canal, epigenetic variants, non-metric cranial variants, supraorbital foramen, zygomaticofacial foramen. 1 Introduction 2 Material and methods Anthropological and paleoanthropological studies Hundred dry adult human skulls from Northern India, concerned with the epigenetic traits or non-metrical cranial having no deformity or fracture were examined. The skulls traits have been increasing in frequency in the last ten were sexed and classified into groups of various non metrical years. Analysis of non-metrical traits remains an important traits. approach to the tracing of genetic relationships among Sexing of the skulls was done by assessing the contour of ancient populations as they permit the measurement of the supraorbital margin. A large piece of plasticine was pressed biological distances between past populations. They can onto the supraorbital margin to produce an impression of also be used for the assessment of the existence of parental its contour. The plasticine was removed carefully so as not structures within a community or as taxonomic indicators. to distort it. These were cut vertically and the shape was These non-metrical cranial traits can be effectively used assessed in cross section. The impression was classified on a seven grade scale as given by previous observer (GRAW, as anthropological characters (CHAMBELLAN, 1883 apud CZARNETZKI and HAFFNER, 1999) as follows: DORSEY, 1983). They play an important role in population • 1, 2, 3 = Trough shaped profile suggestive of male; studies (WOOD–JONES, 1931). This idea was put into • 5, 6, 7 = Angulation of inner aspect suggestive of female; practice (LAUGHLIN and JORGENSEN, 1956). Further • 1 = Definite male; some viewers gave the opinion that these variants could be • 4 = Uncertain; used to calculate a distance statistics between population • 7 = Definite female. samples (BERRY and BERRY, 1967). The accuracy of identification of sex using this method The employment of discontinues traits in anthropology was found to be 70%. After sexing the skulls were looked has certainly been spurred by their apparent ease of scoring for the presence or absence of various non-metrical traits and the fact that they are genetically determined, even (grouped as follows). though partly under environmental control. The aim of this study is to present the frequency of 2.1 Variants related to foramina of nerves and various non-metrical cranial variants in adult human skulls vessels and to investigate side and sexual dimorphisms for these • Supraorbital foramen (Figure 1); traits. Further it was concluded whether these traits could be • Supraorbital notch (Figure 2); used effectively for population studies. • Frontal Foramen; J. Morphol. Sci., 2012, vol. 29, no. 4, p. 189-194 189 Kaur, J., Choudhry, R., Raheja, S. et al. • Frontal notch; observed (Tables 2 and 4). The results obtained were • Zygomaticofacial foramen (Figure 3); subjected to the Chi- square test to note the dimorphisms if • Double hypoglossal canal (Figure 4). present were statistically significant (Tables 5 and 6). 2.2 Variants related to the foramina of blood vessels • Parietal foramen (Figure 5); • Absence of mastoid foramen (Figure 7); • Exsutural mastoid foramen (Figure 8); • Patent condylar canal(Figure 6). Each trait was noted for its presence or absence in male, female and uncertain skulls separately. Variants occurring bilaterally were scored each time they occurred and also on right and left side separately to note side dimorphism (Tables 1 and 3). Sexual dimorphism for the variants was Figure 3. Double Zygomaticofacial foramen (Left side). Figure 1. Supraorbital foramen (Right side). Figure 4. Double hypoglossal canal (Left side). Figure 2. Supraorbital notch (Both sides). Figure 5. Parietal foramen (Both sides). 190 J. Morphol. Sci., 2012, vol. 29, no. 4, p. 189-194 Traits of the skull in anthropology Table 1. Incidence of variants related to the foramina of nerves and vessels. Male Male Male Female Female Female Uncertain Uncertain Uncertain Cranial traits (UL) Rt (UL) Lt (BL) (UL) Rt (UL) Lt (BL) (66) RT (10) LT (10) BL (20) (57) (57) (114) (33) (33) n % n % n % n % n % n % n % n % n % Supraorbital 6 10.5 6 10.5 30 26.3 6 18.2 4 12.2 20 30.3 1 10 1 10 10 50 foramen Supraorbital 4 7 6 10.5 50 43.9 3 9.1 7 21.2 30 45.5 0 0 1 10 8 40 notch Frontal foramen 2 3.5 2 3.5 4 3.5 1 3 4 12.2 4 6.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Frontal notch 1 1.75 1 1.75 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Zygomaticofacial 9 15.8 6 10.5 56 49.1 1 3 3 9 36 54.5 3 30 2 20 10 50 foramen Double 2 3.5 4 7.0 6 5.3 2 6.1 2 6.1 2 3 1 10 0 0 2 10 hypoglossal canal 3 Results The different variants exhibited side and sexual dimorphisms as follows: 3.1 Variants related to the foramina of nerves and vessels Side Dimorphism: Zygomaticofacial foramen had shown the highest incidence (60%), followed by Supraorbital notch (54%) and the Supraorbital foramen (44.5%). Frontal notch is found in only 1.5% of the skulls. Supraorbital foramen, Frontal foramen and Frontal notch showed no side dimorphism in males. Supraorbital notch had higher incidence on the left side and Zygomaticofacial foramen had shown preponderance for right side in males (Table 1) but these differences were not statistically significant (Table 5). Figure 6. Patent condylar canal (Right side). Supraorbital notch, Frontal foramen and Zygomaticofacial foramen were more frequently found on left side in females (Table 1) but again these differences were not statistically significant (Table 5). Sexual dimorphism: Supraorbital foramen, supraorbital notch and Frontal foramen had shown an affinity for females. However, these differences were not statistically significant (Table 6). Zygomaticofacial foramen, Frontal notch and Double hypoglossal canal had shown similar frequencies in both males and females (Table 2). 3.2 Variants related to foramina of blood vessels Side Dimorphism: Exsutural mastoid foramen and Parietal foramen had shown high incidences of 58.5% and 51% respectively followed by Patent condylar canal, 42.5%. Parietal foramen and Patent condylar canal were more frequently seen on right side in males. Exsutural mastoid foramen was more frequent on left side (Table 3). But these side dimorphisms were not statistically significant (Table 5). Sexual dimorphism: Parietal foramen was more frequently found in females (60.6%) when compared to the males, 45.6%.Exsutural mastoid foramen had shown, male preponderance (68.4%).These differences displaying sexual Figure 7. Absence of mastoid foramen (Left side). dimorphism were statistically significant (p < 0.05, Table 6). J. Morphol. Sci., 2012, vol. 29, no. 4, p. 189-194 191 Kaur, J., Choudhry, R., Raheja, S. et al. Table 2. Sexual dimorphism of variants related to the foramina of nerves and vessels. Cranial traits Male (114) Female (66) Uncertain (20) Total (200) n % n % n % n % Supraorbitalforamen 42 36.8 30 45.5 1260 84 42 Supraorbital notch 60 52.6 40 60.6 9 45 109 54.5 Frontal foramen 8 7.0 8 12.1 5 25 21 10.5 Frontal notch 2 1.6 1 1.5 0 0 3 1.5 Zygomaticofacial foramen 71 62.3 41 62.1 15 75 127 63.5 Double hypoglossal canal 12 10.5 6 9.1 3 15 21 10.5 Table 3. Incidence of variants related to the foramina of blood vessels. Male Male Male Female Female Female Uncertain Uncertain Uncertain Cranial traits (U57) (U57) (B114) (U 33) (U 33) (B 66) (U 10) (U 10) (B 20) RT LT RT LT RT LT n % n % n % n % n % n % n % n % n % Parietal foramen 4 7 2 3.5 46 40.4 3 9.1 3 9.1 34 1.5 2 20 2 20 4 20 Absence of mastoid 8 14 8 14 12 10.5 4 12.1 4 12.1 4 6 2 20 0 0 0 0 foramen Exsutural mastoid 6 10.5 1017.5 62 54.4 6 18.2 3 9.1 16 24.2 3 30 2 20 6 40 foramen Patent condylar 1221.1 9 15.8 24 21.1 7 21.2 2 6.1 22 3.3 0 0 1 10 8 40 canal 4 Discussion The non-metrical variants can be effectively used for anthropological studies only if they are under genetic control.