What does «índice cefálico» mean in Spanish?
- Ratio of the maximum width of the skull to its maximum length in a horizontal plane. It is one of several characters used mainly in anthropology as a criterion for the classification of ancient human remains. To calculate the cephalic index, the length of the head is considered equal to 100 and the width is expressed as a percentage of the length. The corresponding measurements of the skull give the cranial index, used to express the same proportion in the fossil remains of ancient man. The measurements are determined by means of a coarse compass and a graduated steel tape. Heads whose width comprises 76% or less of their length are considered dolichocephalic (elongated heads); those in which this dimension equals 80% or more of the length are considered brachycephalic (broad or rounded heads); the intermediate group, from 76 to 80%, are considered mesocephalic.
- In zoology, the ratio of the width to the maximum length of the skull. The index is used to categorize animals, especially dogs and cats.