Applications of Cranial Symmetry in Forensic Anthropology

Applications of Cranial Symmetry in Forensic Anthropology

In forensic anthropology, frontal cranial osteological landmarks are pivotal for the reconstruction of fragmented or incomplete skulls, thereby facilitating subsequent personal identification and facial reconstruction. The basis of this study stem from symmetry of frontal skull landmarks, seminal the range of symmetry deviation for each landmark, assisting scholarly work on skull-photo superimposition, craniofacial reconstruction. The study at hand investigated 105 skulls from the Han Chinese population and the symmetric deviations of 11 frontal osteological landmarks were measured and analyzed to provide foundational support for skull reconstruction. The key findings of the study reports, the cranial landmarks exhibited robust symmetry, with no statistically significant differences between genders (P>0.05). The Deviation distances for the majority of paired landmarks were under 2mms and most deviation angles from landmarks to the nasion were less than 3° off the midsagittal plane. Furthermore, Landmarks such as the lateral orbital rim, lateral orbital tubercle, frontozygomatic point, frontotemporal point and frontotemporal zygomatic point showcased pronounced symmetry. These are instrumental for skull reconstruction and subsequent facial reconstruction, proving crucial for both archaeological and forensic anthropological studies and applications.