Orbital indices in a modern Sinhalese Sri Lankan population

Abstract

Objectives:An understanding of orbital morphology is relevant to forensic identification, craniofacial surgery, and anthropological analysis. Orbital index (OI), the relationship between the height and width of the orbit, varies between different populationsof humans. This study examines modern Sinhalese Sri Lankan skulls to determine normal values for OI and explore how OI mayvary with laterality and sex. Methods: Measurements of fifty modern Sinhalese Sri Lankan skulls (origin Central Province, Sri Lanka) of known sex (34male and 16 female) were undertaken for orbital height and width (bilaterally) using a digital caliper. OI was calculated usinga standard formula ([orbital breadth / orbital height] × 100). Statistical tests analysing OI and size for both sex and lateralitywere performed using unpaired and paired2-tailed t-tests (p