cephalic index?

Question

mesocephalic, brachycephalic, dolichocephalic...how do you measure which one you have?

Answer 1

The cephalic index was invented in the 1800s by Anders Retzius to determine different groups of Europeans. It was not originally intended to be used to classify races. Today, in forensic anthropology, ancestry determination is helpful for identification of skeletal remains, and cephalic index, along with a mosaic of other cranio-facial traits, are used to determine ancestry (however, the cephalic index is NEVER used alone to determine ancestry).

To determine your cephalic index, you will need a pair of spreading calipers. You first measure the maximum length (opisthocranion to glabella--in other words: from the bump on the back of your head to between your eyebrows). Then you will measure the maximum breadth (euryon to euryon--in other words, find the widest spots on the sides of your heads...go backward from the temples, then go up somewhat and look for the widest spots).

Next, you divide the maximum breadth by the maximum length, and then you take that number times 100. That will give you your cephalic index score. Then, to see what category you fall into, look at the following:
dolichocephalic: CI of below 75
mesocephalic: CI of 75-80
brachycephalic: CI of above 80
*typical human variation in cephalic index scores ranges from approximately 70-90

Answer 2

Relates to broad anthropometric, cranio-facial classification
amongst broad racial groupings: Asiatic, *******, and Caucasoid.
Me-so, meaning middle, relates to peoples Caucasoid populations.
Dolich, means long and slender, from front to back, used initially to distinguish ******* classification.
Brachycephalic, broad and short craniums relates to Asiatic populations.
Subsequently, these broad populations were deconstructed into more subtle, sub populations.
All three relate to anthropometric and biometric studies with their beginnings modernly in the eugenics movement of the 19th century as a way to assert the Caucasians natural place
at the evolutionary apex of development - this notion has since been abandoned in scientific communities.

Answer 3

It should not be used for humans (although obviously it is), it is tied to false theories of the 19th century that led to the Holocaust, and other tragic events. The wiki site for the index itself uses dogs to demonstrate the idea where it makes more sense as there is more variation among dogs. As with the measurement of any other part of the anatomy, there is variation among individuals, measurements are useful if you are buying a hat.