A forensic anthropologist examines a skull to determine race. The skull shows a wide nasal aperture, a guttered nasal sill, and a rectangular palate. This combination of features is most characteristic of which racial group?
- A Negroid ✓
- B Caucasoid
- C Mongoloid
- D Australoid
Correct answer: A. Negroid
Explanation
Negroid skulls are characterized by a wide nasal aperture, a guttered (blurred) nasal sill, and a rectangular palate. Caucasoid skulls show a narrow nasal aperture, a sharp nasal sill, and a parabolic palate. Mongoloid skulls display round orbits, shovel-shaped incisors, and a flat facial profile. The combination described is classic for Negroid ancestry and is a standard discriminant feature in forensic anthropology.
Reference: Reddy KSN, The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 34th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.