Growth of cranial volume: an anthropometric study.

The aim of the study is to follow the growth dynamics of cranial volume from birth to 18 years of age among 1623 central Indian subjects. Anthropometric technique was adopted to estimate the cranial volume using maximum length, width and auricular height of head. The mean cranial volume at birth is 376 cc in male and 308 cc in female i.e. 28% and 26% of the 18 years old volume. Within a year the volume reaches 65% in male and 59% in female of the adult size due to very rapid growth during the first six months after birth. The adult cranial volume at 18 years is 1329 cc in males and 1193 cc in females, approximately 3.5 and 4 times of the birth size respectively. The cranial volume reaches its adult size in females at 16 years of age and a year later in males. The present study has generated metrical norms for all growing ages and also the growth dynamics for cranial volume of Indian subjects which will be useful to physicians as a guideline in correcting cranial deformity.