Morphometric Data - An Invariant Approach to Statistical Analysis of Shapes - page 16

Figure 2.1 Aspects of a human skull used to demonstrate various data types used in mor-
phometric analysis. a ) a single unidimensional measure (linear distance from nasale to
lambda) that could represent overall length or size of the skull; b ) a set of unidimensional
measures made up of three linear distances with no common endpoints that measure dif-
ferent aspect of skull form; c ) t he outline of the neurocranium as recorded from a lateral
view. Here we show an open curve, but closed curves can be used; d ) t he surface of the
parietal bone; e ) s ize of the interior of the skull measured as a volume ; f ) t he form of the
skull measured as a set of landmark locations in three dimensional space.