Szekessy Vilmos (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 60. (Budapest 1968)

Bottyán, O.: An analysis of the palatal measuring methods

to a certain extent, this is not considerable. I attempted to establish the length of the foramen, but it was rather difficult since the upper margin of the foramen incisivum is indistinct and loses itself in the margin of the alveolar arch. Therefore I compromised to regard the difference between the lengths measured by the classical and HEINTZ'S method as a value characteristic of the length of the foramen incisivum. The means of these values, broken down for sex and age groups, found in my research material are as follows : Age group : Sex: Number of cases : Mean: 20 cf 47 6.48 30 9 73 6.35 30cf 56 6.56 40 9 43 6.06 40-50 cf 9 55 25 6.06 5.68 50-70 cf 9 38 15 5.94 5.25 Also these means show that with advancing age the difference in length generally decreases, but the decrease is inconsiderable. HEINTZ'S measuring points are indubitably more precise than the classical ones, hence the measurements can be taken more exactly, and therefore the regular differences, arising from the individual measuring and reading faults of the observers, also decrease. This holds especially for the palatal breadths. I compared the differences found between the palatal measurements established by me and various other authors. Fluctuations were extremely slight with respect to length, but considerably greater as regards breadths. This result is characteristic of the classical method. Against its many advantages, only one problem may arise, namely whether by the application of HEINTZ'S measuring method the restricted palatal surface remains characteristic enough, yielding appropriate information for the entire palate. Heintz's sample and the results of its study As far as the statistical side of her method was concerned, N. HEINTZ studied the relation of the proposed measurements with the classical ones. On the basis of Table 1 Correlational coefficients Correlation serial number Heintz Hungarian Correlation serial number sample Correlation serial number N r sex N r Heintz classical length 1 33 0. 85 196 0. 770 Heintz classical length 1 33 0. 85 156 0. 761 Heintz classical breadth 2 33 0. 10 212 0.450 Heintz classical breadth 2 33 0. 10 153 0. 422 Length breadtb classical 3 33 -0.06 212 0. 231 Length breadtb classical 3 33 -0.06 $ 153 0. 364 Length breadtb Heintz 4 33 237 0. 253 Length breadtb Heintz 4 33 0. 45 172 0.317