Estimation of Body Height from Head Length among Dental Students of a Dental College

INTRODUCTION: Body height is an important measure of physical identity. Height exhibits a dimensional relationship with various parts of the body. This relationship helps to calculate height from dismembered and mutilated body parts in forensic examinations. As the cranial dimensions are more reliable and precise means of predicting the stature, this study was undertaken to find the relation between head length and height and to derive a regression formula for the estimation of height from head length among dental students. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 dental students of age group 18–21 years in the Department of Anatomy, Kantipur Dental College Teaching Hospital and Research Center, Basundhara, Kathmandu. The head length was measured with the help of spreading caliper. Height was measured with the help of a standard height measuring instrument. The head length and the height of the students were measured in centimeters. Data obtained were analyzed to find the correlation between head length and height and to derive a regression equation for the estimation of height. RESULTS: A significant positive correlation was observed between head length and height (r=0.734, P<0.001). The regression equation for body height and head length including both sexes and all age groups of dental students was found to be y=12.9+8.45x where x is head length and y is body height. CONCLUSIONS: It was observed in the present study that there was a significant positive correlation between height and head length in all the age groups indicating that head length is a reliable indicator in estimation of height.