cephalic index

2 definitions found

cephalic index - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Cephalic \Ce*phal"ic\, a. [L. cephalicus, Gr. ?, fr. kefalh`
     head: cf. F. c['e]phalique.] (Anat.)
     Of or pertaining to the head. See the Note under Anterior.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Cephalic index (Anat.), the ratio of the breadth of the
        cranium to the length, which is taken as the standard, and
        equal to 100; the breadth index.
  
     Cephalic vein, a large vein running from the back of the
        head alond the arm; -- so named because the ancients used
        to open it for disorders of the head. --Dunglison.
        [1913 Webster]

cephalic index - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  cephalic index
      n 1: ratio (in percent) of the maximum breadth to the maximum
           length of a skull [syn: cephalic index, breadth index,
           cranial index]