skallebredd

Skallebredd is a term used in anthropometry to describe the width of the skull. In practical terms it refers to the maximum cranial breadth across the skull’s widest horizontal extent. In craniometric practice the measure is often called biparietal breadth, defined as the greatest distance between the two parietal bones. A related but distinct measure is bizygomatic breadth, the distance between the outer edges of the cheekbones, which is more commonly described as a facial rather than a skull breadth.

Measurement can be taken directly on living individuals using calipers, or estimated from imaging data, and on skulls or plaster casts when necessary. The exact landmarks used may vary between standard references, but the underlying concept is obtaining the widest side-to-side dimension of the cranium.

Skallebredd has applications in forensic anthropology, clinical assessment, and historical growth studies. It is used, alongside other measurements, to describe cranial shape and size, to explore sexual dimorphism and population differences, and to inform reconstructions in forensic cases. In contemporary practice, measurements are increasingly supplemented or replaced by 3D imaging and digital models to improve accuracy and reproducibility.

Interpretation of skallebredd must consider natural variation due to age, sex, ancestry, and developmental stage. Postmortem deformation or distortion can affect accuracy in skull specimens. While still part of historical anthropometric datasets, the importance of skallebredd has diminished somewhat in favor of comprehensive 3D analyses, but it remains a foundational concept in basic cranial measurement.