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Int J Anat Res 2019, 7(2.1):6377-80. ISSN 2321-4287 6377
Original Research Article
AN ANTHROPOMETRIC STUDY OF NASAL INDEX WITH ITS
CLINICAL CORRELATION
Maitreyee M. Kulkarni 1, Jagdish S.Soni 2, Shital Bhishma Hathila *3.
ABSTRACT
Address for Correspondence: Dr.Shital. Bhishma. Hathila, A-13,Darshanam Villa-2, Near Sap-
phire School, Near Savita Hospital, Parivar Cross Road, WaghodiaRoad, Baroda,Gujarat-390025,
India. Mobile: 9825121336 E-Mail: bhishushital@gmail.com
Background: Nose is an important anatomical and physiological part of face. Its anatomy considerably affects
its function of inhalation and temperature regulation of inspired air. The anatomy is affected by genetic, racial
as well as geographical factors. The aim of the study was to measure nasal height and width in the population
being studied so as to calculate nasal index and classify noses on the basis of calculated index.
Materials and method: The study was conducted on 159 healthy volunteers aged 18-25 years in Medical College
Baroda, Gujarat. Nasal height and Nasal width were measured by digital vernier caliper and the nasal index was
calculated. The type of nose was determined on the basis of the nasal index.
Results: In the present study the mean nasal index is found to be 73.28+10. Mean nasal index is observed as
106.46+6.24 in males & 71.94+8.02 in females. The t test value calculated is 26.725 at CI 95% with P<0.0001
showing highly significant difference in nasal indices of male and female. Mesorrhine is the commonest nasal
type found.
Conclusion: The study will be highly useful to plastic surgeons, craniofacial surgeons, otolaryngologists,
anatomists, forensic experts, orthodontists and medical illustrators alike.
KEY WORDS: Anthropometry, Nasal Height, Nasal width, Nasal Index, Mesorrhine
INTRODUCTION
International Journal of Anatomy and Research,
Int J Anat Res 2019, Vol 7(2.1):6377-80. ISSN 2321-4287
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar.2019.121
Access this Article online
Quick Response code International Journal of Anatomy and Research
ISSN (E) 2321-4287 | ISSN (P) 2321-8967
https://www.ijmhr.org/ijar.htm
DOI-Prefix: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar
DOI: 10.16965/ijar.2019.121
1 M.Sc Medical Anatomy Part II, Medical College Baroda, Gujarat, India.
2 Associate Professor, Anatomy Department, Medical College, Baroda, Gujarat, India.
*3 Assistant Professor, Anatomy Department, Medical College, Baroda, Gujarat, India.
Received: 24 Jan 2019
Peer Review: 25 Jan 2019
Revised: None
Accepted: 07 Mar 2019
Published (O): 05 Apr 2019
Published (P): 05 Apr 2019
Journal Information
ICV for 2016
90.30
Article Information
become crucial as the nose occupies a central
position in facial architecture [2]. The nasal
index is an important anatomical tool that can
be used to figure out sexual, racial and ethnic
differences. Nasal index is a ratio of nasal width
to nasal height multiplied by 100 that helps in
the classifying noses into different types [3]. The
noses also reflect the trends of natural selec-
tion in evolution as it is observed that in cold
and dry climates generally favor narrow noses
whereas broader noses are seen in warm and
The word Anthropometry is a combination of two
Greek words “anthropos” meaning man and the
“metron” meaning to measure and thus is the
measurement of human being [1]. Time and
again various scientists have emphasized the
importance of physical anthropometry in
plastic surgeries involving head and neck,
orthodontics and forensics for the recognition
of missing or dead people and criminals [1].
Nasal parameters especially the shape and size
Int J Anat Res 2019, 7(2.1):6377-80. ISSN 2321-4287 6378
moist climates [4]. Nasal index finds its use in
surgeries like rhinoplasty and other cosmetic
surgeries, being the primary step in proceeding
for surgery [5].
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The present study was conducted after taking
permission from the Institutional Ethical
Committee for Human Research (IECHR) of
Medical College Baroda, Gujarat, on 159 healthy
volunteers aged between 18-25 years. Volun-
teers having any existing or past craniofacial
trauma or deformities such as cleft lip, cleft
palate, or having undergone facial or nasal
surgeries, were excluded from the study.
Consent of the volunteers was taken after
explaining them the process of measurement.
Measurements were obtained with volunteers
sitting comfortably with head in Frankfurt’s
plane [6].
Frankfurt’s plane is defined as Line connecting
the lowest point infraorbital margin i.e. orbitale
to upper edge of external acoustic meatus i.e
porion [7,8].
Following parameters are calculated for the
measurement of nasal index:
Nasal Height i.e. the distance between nasion
(n) and subnasale (sn) where nasion is the
midpoint of the nasofrontal suture and subnasale
is the junction between the lower border of the
nasal septum and the cutaneous portion of the
upper lip[6,9]
Nasal width i.e. the distance between alae of
nose bilaterally [6].
Nasal index is Nasal width divided by Nasal
Height multiplied by 100 [6].
According to nasal index, noses were catego-
rized as follows [6]
· Leptorrhine <70
· Mesorrhine 70-84.9
· Platyrrhine >85.4
All the data was measured using digital vernier
calliper (sensitivity: 0.1mm) in millimetres;
documented , analysed with Microsoft excel &
presented as mean,standard deviation, range
and percentage distribution. t-test was applied
and the results with p<0.05 were considered
significant [6].
Fig. 1: Measurement Of Nasal Height.
Fig. 2: Measurement Of Nasal Width.
OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS
The mean nasal height and nasal width for all
the subjects was found to be 42.17+4.1 mm and
30.75-+3.23 mm. The mean nasal index is
73.28+10. The range is observed to be 139.64-
51.86 mm [table1].
The commonest nasal type is mesorrhine 58.4%
followed by leptorrhine 30.8% and platyrrhine
10.6% [table2, graph1].
Mean nasal height observed in males and fe-
males was 43.99+4.95 mm and 41.43+3.45mm
respectively [table 3]
Mean Nasal width observed was 32.91+3.15 mm
in males and 29.65+2.73 mm in females [table3].
Mean Nasal index is 106.46+6.24 in males &
71.94+8.02 in females. The range observed in
males is 139.64-51.86 mm and in females is
100.23-52.30mm [table 3]. The t test value is
26.725 at CI 95% with P<0.0001 showing highly
significant difference in nasal indices of male
and female [table 3].
In this study the major nose type is mesorrhinic
in both males and females being 79.59% and
56.36% respectively. Mesorrhinic type is
Maitreyee M. Kulkarni, Jagdish S.Soni, Shital Bhishma Hathila. AN ANTHROPOMETRIC STUDY OF NASAL INDEX WITH ITS CLINICAL
CORRELATION.
Int J Anat Res 2019, 7(2.1):6377-80. ISSN 2321-4287 6379
followed by leptorrhinic (males: 22.45%;
females: 34.55%) and Platyrrhinic ( males:
16.33%; females: 9.09%) [table 4, graph 2]
Table 1: Parameters In The Studied Population.
Nasal Height
(mm)
Nasal Width
(mm)
Nasal Index
Mean 42.17 30.75 73.28
SD 4.1 3.23 10
Range 52.83-22.98 39.75-22.36 139.64-51.86
Table 2: Percentage Distribution Of Nasal Types.
Type Percentage (%)
Leptorrhine 30.8
Mesorrhine 58.4
Platyrrhine 10.6
Table 3: Parameters in Male and Female.
Mean Range Mean Range Mean+SD Range
Male 43.99 52.83-22.98 32.91 39.75-26.9 106.46+6.24 51.86-139.64
Female 41.43 49.62-31.34 29.65 38.68-22.36 71.94-+8.02 100.23-52.30
t value
Sex Nasal Height (mm) Nasal Width(mm) Nasal Index
26.725 P<0.0001
Table 4: Percentage Distribution of Nasal Types In Males
And Females.
Nasal Type Female (%) Male (%)
Leptorrhine 34.55 22.45
Mesorrhine 56.36 79.59
Platyrrhine 9.09 16.33
Table 5: Comparison Of The Current Study With Other
Studies.
Study Sex Nasal Index Predominant
Nasal Type
M106.46+6.24
F71.94+8.02
M89.95+11.26
F85.71+10.76
M75.86+7.6
F72.08+7.39
M84.91 Mesorrhine
F67.75 Leptorrhine
Chettri et al [10] F 70.7+18.35 Leptorrhine
Patil et al [4]
Present Study Mesorrhine
Ukoha et al [3] Not Observed
Ray et al [6] Mesorrhine
Graph 1: Percentage Distribution Of Nasal Types.
Graph 2: Percentage Distributions Of Nasal Types In
Males And Females.
DISCUSSION
The morphometric variations in the nasal
measurements globally have become the
centre of investigation for cosmetic and plastic
surgeons, responsible for repair and reconstruc-
tion of the nose [10]. The nose is often regarded
as one of the useful indicators to race of the
individual. The diverse shapes of the nose are
mainly influenced through the environment and
temperatures. The cold and dry climate favor
narrower noses. On the other hand, broad and
wide noses are a feature of warm regions [5].
Different authors, namely Dr.M.N.Chettri et al
(2017)[10], Ray et al(2016) [6], Ukoha et al
(2016) [3], Ashrani et al(2015) [5] and many
more have enormously contributed to the
subject matter.
In the present study the mean nasal index is
found to be 73.28+10 which is comparable to
the study conducted by Ray et al who also ob-
served the mean nasal index to be 73.98 ± 1.9
[6].
The current study also observes that the mean
nasal index among males is 106.46+6.24 that
significantly differs from females being
71.94+8.02. Such wide differences are also re-
ported by Patil et al who observed mean Nasal
index among males to be 84.91and in females
to be 64.75 [4]. On the contrary the mean nasal
indices among male and female are observed
to be similar by Ukoha et al 89.95+11.26 and
85.71+10.76 respectively [3].
They are also alike in case of Ray et al [6] who
reports them to be 75.86+7.6 and 72.08+7.39
respectively [table 5].
The most frequent nasal type in the current study
is found to be mesorrhinic type in both males
and females. This is comparable to Ray et al
who also observed mesorrhinic type to be the
commonest among population of western Uttar
Maitreyee M. Kulkarni, Jagdish S.Soni, Shital Bhishma Hathila. AN ANTHROPOMETRIC STUDY OF NASAL INDEX WITH ITS CLINICAL
CORRELATION.
Int J Anat Res 2019, 7(2.1):6377-80. ISSN 2321-4287 6380
Maitreyee M. Kulkarni, Jagdish S.Soni, Shital Bhishma Hathila. AN ANTHROPOMETRIC STUDY OF NASAL INDEX WITH ITS CLINICAL
CORRELATION.
Pradesh [6]. Chettri et al [10] who studied the
female students in Sikkim University reported
leptorrhine type as the most frequent finding.
Patil et al [4] observes mesorrhine type being
the commonest in males and leptorrhine type in
females in south India which differs from the
results of current study.
Anju Choudhary et al compared the mean nasal
height for Jats and Sindhis and reported them to
be 56.42±3.70mm & 55.84±4.61mm respec-
tively. They also inferred that the predominant
nasal type among Jats was Leptorrhine and
among Sindhis was Mesorrhine [11].
Hegazy AA et al observed Nasal index showed
only after the age of 20 years statistically
significant difference is observed between
males and females. Hegazy et al observed the
age wise trend from 1 month to 65 years in
healthy Egyptians. At one year the mean Nasal
index above 85, classified as platyrrhine nose.
It declined after first to fifth year to be 70 and
type of nose was mesorrhine. Above twenty
years, statistically significant difference is seen
among males and females; the mean nasal
index being 71.46 in males and 64.56 in females
[9].
The study by Asharani S K et al pointed that the
Indian population mainly has mesorrhine type
of nose followed by platyrrhine and leptorrhine
types [5].
The multitude of factors influences size, shape,
and length of the nose such as genetics, sex,
racial origins and environmental conditions [3].
Our study indicates the significant difference
among the nasal indices in males and females.
The index relies on both bony and cartilaginous
anatomical surface points. The natural selection
according to climatic conditions aids in
augmenting the efficiency of the nose keeping
the inhaled air warm and moist as required for
the individual [10].
This study is vital in medical sciences such as
cosmetology and rhinoplasty and will also help
orthodontists, facio-maxillary surgeons,
anatomists and anthropologists alike [12]. Such
anthropometric data will also facilitate
manufacture of better medical gear and tools[1].
CONCLUSION
mm- Millimeters
CI- Confidence Interval
M- Male
F- Female
ABBREVIATIONS
Conflicts of Interests: None
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How to cite this article: Maitreyee M. Kulkarni,
Jagdish S.Soni, Shital Bhishma Hathila. AN
ANTHROPOMETRIC STUDY OF NASAL INDEX WITH
ITS CLINICAL CORRELATION. Int J Anat Res
2019;7(2.1):6377-6380. DOI: 10.16965/ijar.2019.121
