Nasal Parameters and Facial Index in Medical Undergraduates: A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Face has priority in identification of an individual. Nose occupying the middle of face is animportant sense organ that helps in respiration. Nose and face can be classified into different types accordingto nasal index and facial index. The aim of this study was to analyze nose and face type and find out itsdominance in different sex of Nepalese and Indian population. Methods: This was a quantitative observationalstudy conducted on 156 medical students using simple sampling method. Data were collected then nasalindex and facial index were calculated. Descriptive statistical data i.e. mean, standard deviation, togetherwith the independent-samples t-test results for anthropometric variables of nasal and facial parameters insex and Nationality (Nepalese and Indian) were analyzed. Results: All the measurement values were morein males compared to females, but the sexual dimorphism in nasal index (male 76.25 ± 7.75, female 75.70± 8.05) and facial index (male 85.77 ± 8.1, female 82.97 ± 7.63) is not statistically significant. Chi-squaretest revealed significant difference in face type among Nepalese and Indian population. Mesorrhine wasthe most common type of nose in both the population. Nepalese had commonly euryprosopic type of facewhile Indians had hypereuryprosopic type of face. Conclusion: Sexual dimorphism was not significant inboth nasal and facial parameters while type of face was helpful in differentiation of Nepalese and Indianpopulation.