Secular Changes in the Morphology of the Skull in Swedish Men

Abstract

Three hundred and twelve Swedish inductees (average age 18.7 years) were compared with skulls from men aged 18–25 who had died in 1810 regarding skull morphology and the dimensions of the dental arches.

The skull morphology was analysed roentgen-cephalornetrically with profile and postero-anterior roentgenograms. the sizes of the dental arches were measured on casts and directly on the skulls.

The cranium was found to be larger in the inductees than in the skull material. the cranial base was more cnrved in the inductees, which also showed more maxillary alveolar prognathism, proclination of the upper incisors and larger gonion angle. the width of the dental arches between the first molars was smaller in the present day material, while the length of the dental arches was longer.

The results show that parallel to the secular increase in body height there is also secularisation of the morphology of the cranium, including changes also in the cranial base, which suggests a change in the genetic constitution of the population in western Sweden during the last 160 years.

Key Words:

• Skull
• Jaw
• Cephalornetry
• Radiography
• Body height