The aim of this study was to analyze the human orbital asymmetry during development. One hundred twenty-seven identified human dry skulls, with sex, age, date and cause of death record, in good preservation state, were used. Bones that had evidence of trauma, malformations or other pathology were excluded. The sample was divided into 4 age groups: I--intra-uterine life (n=20), II--newborn up to 2 years old (n=43), III--three up to 20 years old (n=27) and IV--21 up to 76 years old (n=37). The skulls were photographed in normal frontalis and images were analyzed with the software AutoCAD 2002 in real scale. The obtained measurements were: greater horizontal diameter (HD), greater vertical diameter (VD), orbital perimeter and orbital base area. All skulls showed asymmetry in all measures, except 4 of them that showed symmetry in VD and perimeter. The asymmetry occurred in all ages, being calculated as a percent rate for VD--2.73%, HD--4.48%, area--4.77% and perimeter--2.47%. There was predominance in asymmetric rate in female skulls and only in the group II the difference between gender was statistically significant (p<0.05). The right orbit presented larger measures. The asymmetric rate was assumed as the normal anatomic pattern.

SUMMARY:The objective of this paper is to establish, validate and test the reproducibility and accuracy of a digital method to measure linear and angular distances in human hard palate of dry skulls. Digital photographs were made in 10 human adult skulls and measurements were made with the aid of AutoCAD software and with a digital caliper in the same skulls by one observer in a blind fashion to compare both methods. To validate the digital method, measurements was made in 20 skulls by 3 observers. The differences of the measurements were not statistically significant between both method and between the 3 observers. The use of digital cameras followed by image analysis with AutoCAD, a software initially developed for engineering and architecture, revealed to be an excellent tool for biometry in morphology in medical and dentistry areas combining easy handling with accessibility.