Ethnic–based Photodocumentation of Nasofacial Angle: The Anioma Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Context: Human morphological variations, along with its attendant physiologic sequalae, have long been noted by physical anthropometrists to follow a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Anthropometric variation in angular craniometric norms, including the nasofacial angle, is not exempted from the influence of these factors. Aim: This craniometric study was aimed at evaluating variation extant in obtained nasofacial angle among a sample population of adult Anioma subjects. Methods and Materials: Participants’ degree of nasofacial angle variation was measured in a cross section of one thousand (1000) Anioma indigenes by the use of photogrammetric techniques. Results: Obtained results showed that sampled Anioma male subjects presented a mean nasofacial angle of 37.86º±3.22, with minimum and maximum values of 32.00º and 48.00º in the order given. Selected female participants showed a mean angle of 36.30º±3.89, which on statistical analysis, proved to be significantly different from obtained male values. Conclusion: Research findings herein support the gender specific nature of nasofacial angle in the study population, thereby suggesting its forensic significance as a basis for subject identification, among others.