Description of Cephalic Index in Female Indian and Chinese Malaysian

Abstract

Cephalic index is an important parameter in evaluating racial and sexual differences, is measured by establishing a ratio between the breadth and the length of the head calculated as 100 times the maximum breadth of the head measured at the greatest diameter of the cranial vault above the supramastoid crest divided by the maximum length of the head measured from the most prominent point on the glabella to the opisthocranion. The aim of the research was to differentiate the cephalic index between female Indian and Chinese Malaysian studying in Padjadjaran University. This research was a descriptive study with total samples are 35 comprise of 13 females Indian and 22 females Chinese. The sampling technique used was stratified random sampling. The subjects were measured for head length and head breadth by using a spreading caliper. The result of the research shows that 22 female Chinese surveyed has an average cephalic index of 85.861(hyperbrachycephalic) with a standard deviation of 3.717. Meanwhile, the 13 female Indian surveyed has an average of 81.768 (brachycephalic), with a standard deviation of 3.205. The conclusion of this research is that there is a significant difference of cephalic index between females Indian and Chinese Malaysian.