Interrelationships of brain, cranial base and mandible.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the neural and masticatory growth factors that contribute to the development of the cranial base. Cephalometric and submentovertex (SMV) radiographs of 66 adult human skulls, of Caucasian (India) origin and unknown gender were used in this study. Results indicate that the cranial base, posterior to the foramen caecum, develops in response to brain growth. The part anterior to the foramen caecum develops in response to the mandible. Our findings indicate that: 1. the glabella instead of the nasion should be considered as the most anterior point of the cranial base. Mandibular dimensions (the height and the length) have a better correlation with CG than CN. 2. Instead of a single parameter, sella-nasion (SN), two parameters, the foramen caecum-glabella (CG) and the foramen caecum-sella (CS) should be considered. In cephalometry the more stable line CS, rather than SN, can be used for registration of successive radiographs; 3. The typical mandibular retrognathia, and/or the decrease in the posterior height (ascending ramus) of a Class II malocclusion could be explained by their positive correlation with SB (sella-basion) and the negative correlation with angle GSB.