ANTHROPOMETRIC STUDY OF NASAL INDEX OF EGYPTIANS

Abstract

ABSTRACTAddress for Correspondence: Dr. Abdelmonem Hegazy (M.D.), Associate Professor, Anatomy andEmbryology Department,Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt.E-Mail: dr.abdelmonemhegazy@yahoo.com, ahegazy@zu.edu.eg Access this Article online Quick Response code Web site: Anatomy and Embryology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt. Background: The nasal index determination is one of the most commonly used anthropometric parameters inclassifying human races. There are few reports in medical literature concerning nasal index that specificallyaddress particular Egyptian populations. The objective of this study was to determine the normal parametersof external nose (width, height and nasal index) in Egyptians.Methods: The study was conducted randomly on healthy Egyptian subjects of both sexes. Nasal height andwidth were measured using vernier caliper. Then, nasal index was determined for each subject. The obtaineddata were subjected to statistical analysis.Results: A total of 290 subjects, 144 males and 146 females, aged 1 month– 65 years, were enrolled in the study.The study showed the existence of sexual dimorphism in nasal morphology, appearing after the age 20 years.The mean nasal index in the investigated adults was 68.01; in males and females was 71.46 and 64.56,respectively.Conclusions: The dominant nasal type in Egyptians was in-between mesorrhine “medium” and leptorrhine“narrow” nose. Forensic and anthropological research, as well as cosmetic and reconstructive surgery maybenefit from age- and sex- based data of the study.KEYWORDS: Anthropometry, anatomy, nasal breadth, nasal height, nasal index, sexual dimorphism, nasal type.