Craniofacial anthropometry of Sri Lanka

Abstract

The data available on craniofacial anthropometry of Sri Lankans are very scanty. These measurements are an important consideration to the clinician and the anthropologist. A total of 8409 children, 3954 males and 4450 females in the age range of 6-18 years, belonging to the three major ethnic groups in Sri Lanka, the Sinhalese, Sri Lankan Tamils and Sri Lankan Moors were examined with the aim of establishing the normal values for a series of seven craniofacial measurements obtained using Holtain anthropometric instruments. Norms were established for 1-year age categories from 6-18 years, for males and females in the three ethnic groups. The Sinhalese males and females showed higher values for head circumference, head breadth and bicondylar breadth than the Sri Lankan Tamils and Moors, differences which were statistically significant (P<0.05 to P<0.001). The facial height of the Sri Lankan Moors were significantly greater that of the Sinhalese and Sri Lankan Tamiis.