Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

An anthropometric study of relationships between the clival angle and craniofacial measurements in adult human skulls

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Stating background

The clival angle, between the ethmoidal plane and the clival plane, measures the cranial base angulation. Relations between cranial base angulation and facial patterns have been discussed and present contradictory evidence. The aim of this study is to determine whether correlations could be found between the clival angle and craniofacial measurements.

Methods

This study was carried out on a sample of 235 human skulls. Twenty landmarks were marked. The clival angle and 16 other variables were measured and compared using analysis of variance.

Results

Statistical analysis showed a relationship between the clival angle and six measurements (P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between the clival angle and the cranial lengths, the nasomaxillary sagittal measurements and palatal length but the width of the foramen magnum had a negative correlation. No significant relationship was found between the clival angle and the cranial height and widths, the palatal width, the length of the foramen magnum and the mandibular measurements.

Conclusions

The trends found in this study with regard to the craniofacial lengths show that the nasomaxillary complex in humans has a stable position lying beneath the anterior cranial base. Transversal, vertical and mandibular variables have a more independent relationship.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Anderson DL, Popovich F (1983) Relation of cranial base flexure to cranial form and mandibular position. Am J Phys Anthropol 61:181–187

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Björk A (1955) Cranial base development. Am J Orthod 41:198–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Coben SE (1961) Growth concepts. Angle Orthod 31:194–201

    Google Scholar 

  4. Delaire J, Schendel SA, Tulasne JF (1981) An architectural and structural craniofacial analysis: a new lateral cephalometric analysis. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Path 52:226–238

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Delaire J, Salagnac J M, Notari F (1994) Diagnostic des dysmorphoses dento-maxillo-faciales. Apport de l’analyse architecturale informatisée. Acta Odontol Stomatol 187:477–511

    Google Scholar 

  6. Dibbets JMH (1992) Morphological association between the Angle classifications. Eur J Orthod 18:111–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Enlow DH, McNamara JA (1973) The neurocranial basis for facial form and pattern. Angle Orthod 43:256–270

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Enlow DH (1982) Handbook of facial growth, 2nd edn. WB Saunders, Toronto

    Google Scholar 

  9. George SL (1978) A longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis of the growth of the postnatal cranial base angle. Am J Phys Anthropol 49:171–178

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Kasai K, Moro T, Kanazawa E, Iwasawa T (1995) Relationship between cranial base and maxillofacial morphology. Eur J Orthod 17:403–410

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Kerr WJ, Hirst D (1987) Craniofacial characteristics of subjects with normal and postnormal occlusions–a longitudinal study. Am J Orthod Dentofac Orthop 92:207–212

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Kuroe K, Rosas A, Molleson T (2004) Variation in the cranial base orientation and facial skeleton in dry skulls sampled from three major populations. Eur J Orthod 26:201–207

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Landzert T (1866) Der sattelwinkel und sein verhaeltnis zur pro und orthognathie. Abh Senckenb Naturforsch Gesicht 6:19–165

    Google Scholar 

  14. Leonetti G, Signoli M, Hershkovitz I, Latimer B, Terve JP, Jellema L, Cianfarani F, Dutour O (1997) Variation de l’angle sphénoïdal du crâne humain en fonction du vieillissement. C R Acad Sci III 320:943–947

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Lieberman DE, McCarthy RC (1999) The ontogeny of cranial base angulation in humans and chimpanzees and its implications for reconstructing pharyngeal dimensions. J Hum Evol 36:487–517

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Oyar O, Govsa F, Sener RN, Kayalioglu G (1996) Assessment of normal clivus related to age with magnetic resonance imaging. Surg Radiol Anat 18:47–49

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Ross CF, Ravosa MJ (1993) Basicranial flexion, relative brain size, and facial kyphosis in nonhuman primates. Am J Phys Anthropol 91:305–324

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Ross C, Henneberg M (1995) Basicranial flexion, relative brain size, and facial kyphosis in Homo sapiens and some fossil hominids. Am J Phys Anthropol 98:575–593

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. White TD (2000) Human osteology, 2nd edn. Academic, San Diego

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral, Maxillofacial and Facial Plastic Surgery, North University Hospital, Marseille, France

    L. Guyot & O. Richard

  2. Faculty of Medicine, Anthropology Research Unit, UMR 6578 CNRS-University of La Méditerranée, Marseille, France

    L. Guyot, O. Richard, P. Adalian, C. Bartoli, O. Dutour & G. Leonetti

  3. Faculty of Medicine, Forensic Science Laboratory, Marseille, France

    C. Bartoli & G. Leonetti

  4. Service de Stomatologie, Chirurgie Maxillo-Faciale et Plastique de la Face, CHU Nord, Chemin des Bourrelys, 13915, Marseille Cedex 20, France

    L. Guyot

Authors
  1. L. Guyot
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. O. Richard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. Adalian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. C. Bartoli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. O. Dutour
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. G. Leonetti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. Guyot.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Guyot, L., Richard, O., Adalian, P. et al. An anthropometric study of relationships between the clival angle and craniofacial measurements in adult human skulls. Surg Radiol Anat 28, 559–563 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-006-0161-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-006-0161-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation