Mesocephaly

Mesocephaly: features and significance in medicine

Mesocephaly is a medical term that describes a human or animal head shape characterized by intermediate width and length of the skull. The term comes from the Greek words "meso" (middle) and "kephale" (head), meaning "medium-headed".

A widely accepted method for classifying the shape of the human skull is based on the cap index, which is calculated by dividing the maximum width of the skull by its maximum length. If the cap index is in the range from 75 to 79, then the shape of the skull corresponds to mesocephaly.

Mesocephaly is one of the three main types of skull shape, along with brachycephaly (wide head) and dolichocephaly (narrow head). These types of skull shapes are caused by the mobility of the bony sutures of the skull during growth and development.

Mesocephaly occurs in many peoples of the world. In some cultures, it is considered a sign of beauty and attractiveness. However, mesocephaly may be associated with certain medical problems, such as dental abnormalities, imbalances between head and body sizes, and certain neurological disorders.

The study of skull shape and its relationship with diseases is of great importance in medical practice. For example, when diagnosing neurological diseases such as hydrocephalus (a buildup of fluid in the brain), the shape of the skull can provide important information about possible causes and mechanisms of disease.

Thus, mesocephaly is a type of skull shape characterized by an average width and length of the skull. It can be associated with some medical problems, but is also important for diagnosing and studying certain diseases.