Cranial capacity is a measure of the volume of the interior of the cranium (also called the braincase or brainpan) of those animals who have both a brain and a cranium. The most commonly used unit of measure is that of the cubic centimeter or cc. Only vertebrates have a cranium. The volume of the cranium is used as a rough indicator of the size of the brain, and this in turn is used as a rough indicator of the intelligence of the organism.

Examples of cranial capacity: (cc. stands for cubic centimeters)

Orangutans . . . . . . 275-500 cc.

Chimpanzees . . . . . 275-500 cc.

Gorillas . . . . . . . . . 340 -752 cc.

Humans . . . . . . . . . . . .1100 -1700 cc.