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 Table of Contents  
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2016  |  Volume : 4  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 8-11

Anthropometric study of the nose in a student population


1 Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Anambra, Nigeria
2 Department of Anatomy, Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi, Nigeria
3 Department of Human Anatomy, Abia State University, Uturu, Abia, Nigeria
4 Department of Human Anatomy, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra, Nigeria

Date of Web Publication13-Sep-2016

Correspondence Address:
Ukoha U Ukoha
Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P.M.B 5001, Nnewi, Anambra
Nigeria
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/2315-7992.190461

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  Abstract 

Background: Human nose differs in its anatomy and morphology among different racial and ethnic groups. Objective: The objective of this study was to establish and compare the nasal parameters of male and female subjects in a student population. Materials and Methods: Five hundred (500) subjects were selected at random comprising 250 males and 250 females. The ages of the subject ranged from 18 years to 25 year. Nasal heights, breadths, and pronasal distances were measured using a Mitutoyo manual vernier caliper. The nasal indices were calculated. Result: The mean heights of the nose in males and females were 4.61 ± 0.58 cm and 4.30 ± 0.54 cm, respectively. The mean breadths of the nose in males and females were 4.12 ± 0.52 cm and 3.68 ± 0.46 cm, respectively. The mean pronasal distances of the nose in males and females were 1.86 ± 0.23 cm and 1.72 ± 0.22 cm, respectively. The mean nasal index of the nose in the males and females were 89.95 ± 11.26 and 85.71 ± 10.76, respectively. The result showed sexual dimorphism, with significantly higher values of all the parameters in males compared to the females (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The result of the study showed that the mean nasal index of the subjects irrespective of their ethnic groups falls within the nose type platyrrhine.

Keywords: Anthropometry, nasal parameters, nasal index, sexual dimorphism


How to cite this article:
Ukoha UU, Egwu OA, Ndukwe GU, Akudu LS, Umeasalugo KE. Anthropometric study of the nose in a student population. Ann Bioanthropol 2016;4:8-11

How to cite this URL:
Ukoha UU, Egwu OA, Ndukwe GU, Akudu LS, Umeasalugo KE. Anthropometric study of the nose in a student population. Ann Bioanthropol [serial online] 2016 [cited 2017 Jan 24];4:8-11. Available from: http://www.bioanthrojournal.org/text.asp?2016/4/1/8/190461


  Introduction Top


While evaluating human face, one of the things that often call for attention is the set of three facial prominences that characterize the profile: The lips, nose, and chin.[1] To a great extent, beauty and attractiveness of the face depend on the reciprocal proportion and aesthetic harmony, and the set of these three features constitute the aesthetic facial triads.[2]

The nose occupies the center of the face, and it is one of the most important factors characterising the face.[3] The nose can be divided into two parts—the external and the internal parts, and the external part is the most studied part.[4] The external nose is pyramidal in structure and its skeletal framework is made up of bones and cartilages that maintain its shape. The external nose serves the cosmetic function by enhancing an individual's personality and beauty.[5]

Physical anthropology relies mainly on external measurements and descriptions of the human body.[6] The nasal index measurement is one of the methods anthropologists have used to distinguish racial and ethnic differences [7],[8],[9],[10],[11] and sexual differences,[12] and it has become a useful tool in forensic science.[13] Nasal index ratio (ratio of nasal width to nasal height multiplied by 100) has aided in the classification of nasal index into three different nose types:



The studies of nasal index have been carried out in various locations and in different races. Risley [7] studied the nasal indices of Indo-Aryans and Indian Negroids, while Daniel [14] reported nasal indices for various races as follows: Lebanon (63.30), Alawite (62.74), Damascus (63.26), Armenians (63.80), Greeks (68.49), and Arabic (74.48).

In Nigeria, Akpa et al.[15] reported nasal parameters in Igbos of both sexes and classified them as platyrrhine. Oladipo et al.[16] also reported the mean nasal index of Igbo, Ijaw, and Yoruba ethnic groups in Southern Nigeria as platyrrhine. Oladipo et al.[17] also investigated the nasal parameters of Itsekiris and Okpes of Southern Nigeria. Significant difference was seen between the two ethnic groups, and sexual dimorphism was observed within these ethnic groups, with males having significantly higher nasal index values than females. Anibor et al.[18] carried out a study on Isokos, while Eboh [19] studied the Bini ethnicity, and both the studies classified their subjects as platyrrhine.

It has been stated that several reports exist in nasal indices of Caucasian populations with few on African populations and few on Nigerians; therefore, this study aimed to establish and compare the nasal parameters of male and female subjects in a Nigerian student population.


  Materials and Methods Top


A total of 500 subjects (250 males and 250 females) were studied. The subjects were students of Anambra State University, Uli, with ages ranging from 18 years to 25 years. The subjects were sampled using the random sampling technique. None of the subjects had previous plastic surgery or trauma to the face. Ethical approval was sought and obtained from the Ethical Committee of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Anambra State University, Uli.

Method of measurement

Informed consent was obtained from the subjects before the measurement. All the measurements were taken with the students sitting on a chair in a relaxed condition and the head in anatomical position. The muscles of the face were relaxed in order not to alter the size of the nose. The measurements of nasal height, nasal breadth, and pronasal distance were taken with a Mitutoyo manual vernier caliper (Japan; accuracy: 0.01 mm).xs

  • Nasal height: This was measured from the nasion to the subnasion
  • Nasal breadth (maximum breadth of the nose): This was measured form one ala to the other ala at right angle to the nasal height
  • Pronasal distance: This was measured from the most prominent point of the nasal tip to the point of union of both alar curvatures
  • Nasal index: This was calculated as the ratio of nasal breadth to the nasal height multiplied by 100.


Statistical analysis

The data were subjected to statistical analysis using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 (SPSS-Inc., Chicago, IL). Mean and standard deviation were determined for the nasal parameters. Independent sample t-test was used to determine sexual dimorphism. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05.


  Results Top


Data are means and standard deviation of the nasal parameters of the subjects. Independent sample t-test indicated sexual dimorphism, with the male subjects having significantly higher nasal parameters than the females (P < 0.05).


  Discussion Top


The result of the present study [Table 1] showed that the mean nasal height of male and female subjects were 4.61 cm and 4.3 cm, respectively. This is in conformity with studies done in Nigeria [18],[19],[20],[21] and an Iranian study using Sistani women.[22] However, the present study showed lower nasal height than some Nigerian studies [15],[23] and other studies in USA [24] and Turkey.[25] The present study reinforces the fact that anthropometric parameters vary between populations.
Table 1: Nasal parameters of male and female subjects

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The mean nasal breadth of the present study [Table 1] was 4.12 cm in males and 3.68 cm in females. This is similar to various Nigerian studies.[20],[23],[26] Heidari et al.[22] reported the mean nasal width of the Sistani and Baluch aborigine women as 3.23 cm and 3.14 cm, respectively; these findings agree with the values of the females in the present study. Another study [27] showed a lower nasal breadth for Chilean males, and a similar value for their females when compared to the present study.

The mean pronasal distance in this study [Table 1] was 1.86 cm and 1.72 cm for males and females, respectively. The results were slightly lower than the findings by Chukwuanukwu et al.[28] and Omur et al.[29] on Igbos and Turks, respectively. The present study was also lower than the values for Chileans [27] that was reported to be 4.35 cm in males and 3.92 cm in females.

The present study showed the mean nasal indices of males and females to be 89.95 and 85.71, respectively, and conformed to the platyrrhine nose type, which is typical of the African population. The present study was in conformity with various Nigerian studies where nasal indices of male and female subjects were greater than 85.[16],[20],[28],[30] The result of the present study was however at variance with Nigerian studies on the Hausas and Andonis,[23],[31] and on Iranian [22] and Turkish subjects [29] which were all less than 85. In [Table 2], the nasal indices were compared with other studies, and showed that the Nigerian nose type was platyrrhine (>85), followed by the Chinese and Egyptian males (mesorrhine), while the Egyptian females and the Caucasians had the leptorrhine nose type.
Table 2: Comparison of nasal indices between populations

Click here to view


Sexual dimorphism was observed in the present study, with the males showing significantly higher values than the females [Table 1]. This is also in agreement with several studies.[16],[23],[26],[30] However, studies by Chukwuanukwu et al.[28] on Igbo subjects and Oladipo et al.[32] on Ikwerre subjects reported that the females had significantly higher nasal indices (P < 0.05) than their male counterparts. In another Nigerian study,[31] the Okrika ethnic group showed no significant difference in nasal index between the males and females, and Eboh [19] also concurred in his study on Bini adolescents that the difference in nasal indices between sexes was not statistically significant.

The factors responsible for the variation in size, shape, and length of the nose could include genetic factors,[33] race, and environmental climate conditions.[34] According to Hall,[35] narrower noses are better favoured in cold and dry climates while broad noses are favoured in warm and moist environments. The present study reinforces this theory, given that the study was carried out in a tropical region and the overwhelming majority of the subjects had the platyrrhine (broad) nose type.


  Conclusion Top


Our study showed that the external nose of the male and female student population in Anambra, irrespective of their ethnic groups, falls within the African nasal classification known as platyrrhine (broad nose) that has a nasal index of ≥85.0, and it also indicates sexual dimorphism.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.[39]

 
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