Human Skull Model, Plastic

Quick Answer: The Human Skull Model, Plastic is a replica of the human skull moulded in plastic. A plastic skull model is robust enough for repeated handling and is used to locate named landmarks, compare skull features and study the proportions of the face.

Landmarks, Traits and Proportions

Anthropologists, forensic scientists and orthodontists describe the skull with named landmarks, and a plastic replica is an ideal surface to find them on. Nasion is the point where the frontal and nasal bones meet between the eyes; glabella is the smooth prominence just above it; bregma and lambda mark where the coronal and lambdoid sutures meet the sagittal suture; and inion is the external occipital protuberance at the back. Measurements between such points, such as the skull’s maximum length and breadth, give the indices used in physical anthropology.

The same model supports lessons on how skulls vary. In forensic anthropology, larger brow ridges, a bigger mastoid process, a squarer chin and a more rugged area for the neck muscles at the back are generally associated with male skulls, but the traits overlap widely and no single feature decides. A single replica shows only one combination, so it is most useful as the reference against which photographs or other skulls are compared. Artists use a skull to learn facial proportions, for example that the eyes sit roughly halfway down the head.

Plastic replicas do not shatter as easily as plaster casts and can be wiped clean, though thin areas such as the nasal bones and pterygoid plates can still snap. The listing does not state the scale, whether the jaw is hinged or whether the skull opens. Another adult skull appears in the range as Human Model, Skull.

Uses Across Subjects

• Forensic science practicals on skull traits used in identification
• Physical anthropology lessons on craniometric landmarks and indices
• Art and sculpture classes on facial proportions and portrait construction
• Orthodontic and dental introductions to the relationship of the jaws and skull base

Specifications

Handling a Plastic Skull

• Carry the plastic skull model by the cranium, never by the cheekbones or jaw.
• Wash it with mild soapy water and a soft cloth if it becomes grimy, then dry it fully.
• Mark landmarks with removable dots or washable pencil rather than permanent ink.
• Store it away from heaters, which can warp some plastics.

Why Choose LabEquip

Forensic science departments, art schools and anatomy teachers choose a plastic skull when it will be handled, measured and marked often. LabEquip lists it in Biology Lab Products; share your intended use through the contact page so the scale and fittings can be checked for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why choose a plastic skull over a real one?

Plastic replicas avoid the ethical and legal questions of using human remains, are cheaper to replace and can be cleaned freely. Every student group can also work on an identical copy.

Which landmarks can be located on the model?

Common ones are nasion, glabella, bregma, lambda, inion and the mastoid process. Students also find the zygomatic arches and the mental protuberance of the chin.

Can a skull model be used to teach sex estimation?

It can illustrate the traits used, such as brow ridge size, mastoid size and chin shape, but these vary widely between people. One model shows a single example, so compare it with photographs or other skulls.

How do artists use a plastic skull?

They draw or sculpt it from different angles to learn proportions and how bone shapes the face, for example the position of the eye sockets, cheekbones and jaw beneath the skin.

Will the plastic skull survive being dropped?

Plastic is less likely to shatter than plaster, but thin parts such as the nasal bones, orbit walls and the plates behind the palate can break. Handle it over a table or padded surface.

Is the skull life size?

The listing does not give a scale or say whether the jaw is hinged. Most teaching skulls are adult size, but confirm this when you enquire.

Last Updated: September 2026