Acta Anthropologica Sinica ›› 2001, Vol. 20 ›› Issue (04): 288-294.

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Observations of some non-metrical traits in the modern human skulls

ZHOU Wen-lian, WU Xin-zhi   

  • Online:2001-12-15 Published:2001-12-15

Abstract: This study examined the frequencies of occurence of the canine fossa, the marginal process and the bulging of bone surface between the orbit and the pyriforme orifice in different groups of modern human.These skulls include 75 modern Chinese ( 50 Yunnan skulls [ male 26, female 24], 25 male Northern China skulls) and 26 modern European skulls ( male 16, female 10).The results of our observation are presented in the tables of Chinese text.There are English terms in these tables.The conclusion is as follows:
1.There is no sexual difference among the three non-metrical traits in the modern Europeans skulls.The frequencies of occurrence of canine fossa and the marginal process show no sexual difference, but the bulging between the orbit and the pyriforme orifice occurs more often in males than females in the Chinese Yunnan skulls.
2.The three traits show no difference between the two groups of the Chinese human skull.
3.The canine fossa and the bulging between the orbit and the pyriforme orifice occur more often in the modern European skulls than in two groups of the Chinese skulls, while the presence of the marginal process differ little in the three groups of the modern human skulls.

Key words: Observation; Canine fossa; Marginal process; Bulge between orbit and pyriforme orifice