Estimation of cranial capacity and growth indicators in elementary school children

Cranial capacity (CC) can be used to estimate the brain volume and is correlated to the growth and development in children. Anthropometry is a useful method to obtain data of estimated cranial capacity and other growth indicators including body weight (BW) and body height (BH). Neuromuscular reflex test (NMRT) is a method to observe children's neuromuscular function. The aim of this study is to elucidate and to understand correlation between estimated CC, BW, BH, body mass index (BMI) and neuromuscular function in elementary school children in East Java, Indonesia age 7-14 years old. The anthropometric study was carried out in 153 boys and 145 girls from 3 elementary schools in East Java age 7-14 years old to measure BH and BW to calculate the BMI by WHO formula. Other data taken including NMRT and maximum head length, maximum head breadth between parietal eminence, and head height from vertex to tragus; last three are to calculate the estimated CC using formula of Manjunath (2002a). Correlations between CC, BW, BH, BMI and NMRT were analyzed with Microsoft Excel. For comparison of cranial capacity means between boys and girls, two-tailed t test was done (p>0.05). In boys, a positive correlation was found between the CC and: BMI (r=0.38), BW (r=0.4), BH (r=0.3); whilst no obvious correlation was observed between the CC and NMRT (r=0.07). In girls, a positive correlation was found between the CC and: BMI (r=0.33), BW (r=0.45), BH (r=0.48); whilst negative correlation was observed between the CC and NMRT (r=-0.05). Results indicate there is a strong linier correlation between CC and BMI, and BW, and BH in both boys and girls. No obvious correlations were found between CC and NMRT in boys and girls.