Morphometric Analysis of the Facial Profile: Contour of the Side Face and its Variations

Methods of forensic facial reconstruction and human identification: historical background, significance, and limitations

Facial reconstruction is the most frequently used method for human identification in forensic examinations. It is a complex and time-consuming technique and an actively growing field with a wide array of applications. The methods of forensic facial reconstruction are helpful in those cases where other methods of identification are not applicable. Identification of the dead is always a challenging task for forensic teams in cases involving terrorists' attacks and mass disasters where the corpses are fragmented, decomposed, and skeletonized. In such cases, only the skeletal remains and few other clues are available to establish the identity of a person. The progress of facial reconstruction was initiated in the nineteenth century, reconstructing the facial profiles of some famous and rich people. Various novel techniques for facial reconstruction have been devised in the recent past. We conducted literature search, using databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect for analyzing different methods developed and practiced till date for human facial reconstruction. We outline the brief history along with a discussion regarding the different methods of forensic facial reconstruction and their limitations. We also discuss future recommendations and preferences for further research in the field of forensic facial reconstruction and human identification.

Morphometric Variations and Growth Analysis of the Side Face Profiles of Chinese Children

OBJECTIVE

We aim to use geometric morphometric methods to analyze the contours of the side face profile and its variations in 116 children in Hunan province, China, in order to reveal common morphological features and growth of the side face profiles of Chinese children.

DESIGN

We photographed the side faces with consistent standardized procedures. Thirty-seven landmarks were recorded, which comprehensively reflected the facial sagittal plane. The collection of coordinate data regarding landmarks was conducted by tpsDig software. Other analyses, such as average shape analysis, principal component analysis, variations analysis, and allometric analysis, were conducted using tpsRelw and tpsRegr.

RESULT

Based on the 37 landmarks, principal component analysis was used on the profiles of boys and girls. The result shows that PC1 and PC2 account for 35.46% and 27.44% of the side face contour variations, respectively. There is no significant difference in the side profiles of boys and girls. Overlapping distributions between the boys and girls occurred. A significant difference occurs when principal component analysis was used on the side profiles of children and adults.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a significant difference in the side face profiles between adult males and females. Adult males have a higher brow (the 8th landmark) than females, and adult females have a more curved forehead. However, the side face profiles of boys and girls around 10 years of age are generally similar, which suggests that the significant difference in side face profiles between adult males and females may be formed after the age of 10. This study is of great significance for both orthodontists and pediatricians to use different norms for kids and adults and different norms for males and females for each of those age groups.

Anthropometrical Analysis of the Foramen Magnum in Ancient Children

ABSTRACT

Anthropometrical analysis of the foramen magnum (FM) was conducted on a sample of 32 children and 101 adults excavated from Zaghunluq cemetery dating between 2600 and 1900 cal. yr BP in Xinjiang, China. The FM features of children during age changes and growth spurt periods were explored by comparing the length of the FM, the width of the FM, and the values of the FM index among different age groups. The data presented in this study indicate that the size of the FM was smallest at 2 years old, and the FM size during 5 to 7 years of age was close to that of adults, supporting the view that the size of the 6-year-old skull is close to that of the adult and brain growth appears to terminate at 7 years. The FM likely experiences a growth spurt period during 2 to 5 years of age. Regression equations were established by regression analysis of the length and width of the FM. Study on the morphological variation of the FM provides further information about the growth of children.