Bizygomatisk

Bizygomatisk is a term derived from the Latin words bizygos, meaning "two zygomae," and the suffix -astic, which in anthropological contexts refers to a specific measurement or characteristic. The word is used primarily in physical anthropology and forensic science to describe or refer to the bizygomatic breadth, the distance between the outermost points of the zygomatic arches (cheekbones) in human skulls.

The bizygomatic breadth is a key cranial metric that is used to assess craniofacial morphology, population differences, and to assist in the estimation of age, sex, and ancestry in forensic investigations. It is commonly measured with calipers or digitally from high‑resolution cranial scans. Because it captures the width of the face, the bizygomatic breadth can help infer genetic relationships, dietary habits, and environmental adaptations over evolutionary time scales. In many anthropological studies, the bizygomatic breadth is compared against other cranial dimensions, such as the bizygomatic breadth to cranial capacity ratio, to evaluate skull shape diversity.

In forensic contexts, accurate measurement of bizygomatic breadth aids in reconstructing missing or damaged skulls and can contribute to the identification of skeletal remains. Moreover, variations in bizygomatic breadth have been documented across different human populations, providing valuable data for studies of human variation and migration patterns. Existing literature and databases of cranial measurements, such as the Gazetteer of Normal Human Cephalometric Measurements, include extensive records of bizygomatic breadth to support comparative analyses.