Bizygomatic Distance Research Articles

Anthropometric study of cephalometric indices among Idoma and Igede ethnic groups of Benue State, Nigeria

Background : Anthropometric variables are important biometric characteristics that varies with age, sex, and tribe. Aim : Following the paucity of research in cephalometry as subdivisions of biological and forensic anthropology, this study was undertaken due to lack of adequate cephalometry among Nigerians. Methods : Four hundred and twenty five subjects were used for the study of which 158 were Igede and 267 were Idoma with mean age of 22.6, 0.45 and 23.0 0.47 year respectively. The anthropometric variables measured were head length, head width, bizygomatic distance, upper facial length, lower facial length, total facial length, nose width and skull height from which the cephalometric indices were calculated. Result : The result showed that there were statistically significant differences (P<0.05) in some of the measured variables between the Igede and Idoma tribes of Benue State as head length, head width. The result also showed a positive correlation between the head width and bizygomatic distance and other anthropometric variables which could be used to predict cephalic indices among the Igede and Idoma ethnic groups of Benue State, Nigeria. These results showed that the dominant head form among the Idoma and Igede Ethnic groups were mexocephalic respectively. Facial indices showed dominant hypereuriprosopic face. Conclusion : The present study could be used in forensic anthropology, establishing ancestral relationship and reconstructive surgeries of the face, head and neck of the two ethnic groups of Idoma and Igede of Benue State in north-central of Nigeria. Key words: Anthropometry, cephalometry, dimorphism, indices, Benue, Nigeria

Intercanine width as a tool in two dimensional reconstruction of face: An aid in forensic dentistry.

Context:Dental evidence is a valuable tool in identifying individuals, especially when disasters befall. Reference points in faciomaxillary region such as interpupillary distance, intercanthal distance, interalar distance and bizygomatic width can significantly contribute toward reconstruction of two-dimensional (2D) facial profiles. This study was researched upon to determine the relationship between the maxillary intercanine width and the different reference points of the face.Aim:The aim of the following study is to ascertain whether maxillary intercanine width can be used to detect interpupillary distance, intercanthal distance, interalar distance and bizygomatic distance and to evaluate the role of maxillary intercanine width in the 2D reconstruction of the face.Materials and Methods:The study was carried out by consent and involved 90 subjects-45 males and 45 females who satisfied the inclusion criteria. Subjects were divided into three age groups, i.e. 18-24, 25-28, 29-35. Four parameters were measured– intercanine width, interpupillary distance, intercanthal distance and interalar distance. All the measurements were carried out with a digital Vernier caliper. The bizygomatic width was measured from posterior-anterior view. Two empiricists were assigned for the task. Each test was carried out twice to validate the soundness of the findings and to reduce bias.Statistical Analysis:Analysis of variance and Pearson correlation was established. Regression analysis was performed to predict the study variables by intercanine width.Results:Intercanine width showed a significant relationship with different points. The width varied with age and gender.Conclusion:Inter canine width can be used as a valuable parameter in the reconstruction of face in two dimensional as it shows significant relationship with faciomaxillary reference point such as interpupillary distance, intercanthal distance, interalar distance and bizygomatic width.

Sexual Dimorphism of Bizygomatic distance &amp; Maxillary sinus using CT Scan

An incomplete skeleton especially skull is a great challenge for Forensic anthropologists for age & sex estimation. But sometimes denser bones are often recovered intact eg. zygomatic bone, maxillary sinus. Therefore this study tries to use the alternate methods for gender estimation by using measurements of denser areas of such unknown skull especially bizygomatic distance.The aim of this study was to investigate whether the bizygomatic distance, AP diameter & width of the maxillary sinus & intermaxillary distance could be used for determination of gender using CT scan. 191 cases were studied, from M.P. region, of which 106 were males and 85 were females. All the measurements were taken from series of CT Head images in axial images on DICOM viewing software in computer.The data was statistically analyzed by using Graph pad prism.Unpaired Student t-test was carried out and calculated for each data separately. Analysis of variance was also done & F- value were calculated. A statistically significant difference with p<0.0001 was observed in the bizygomatic distance with mean±SD of 9.55±0.41cm for male & 9.262±0.52 for female. The strongest correlated variable with bizygomatic distance was the intermaxillary distance (r = 0.3037) in male & AP diameter of sinus (r = 0.5980) in female.We can conclude that Computerized Tomography measurements of bizygomatic distance & maxillary sinus dimensions may be useful to support gender determination in forensic medicine when other methods are inconclusive.

Discriminant Function Analysis as a Proof for Sexual Dimorphism among the Yoruba Ethnic Group of Nigeria: A Cephalometry Study

Background: Forensic scientists study human skeleton in legal setting. Discriminant function analysis has become important in forensic anthropology. The aim of this study was to determine the sex of adolescent Yoruba ethnic group of Nigeria using iscriminant function analysis. Methodology: One thousand (500 males and 500 females) were used. Eight cephalometric parameters were measured, namely head length, head width, bizygomatic distance, skull height, upper facial height, lower facial height, total facial height and nose width. Discriminant function analysis was done Results: Discriminant function score equation was determined for both direct and stepwise approach for the determination of the adolescent Yoruba population of Nigeria with between 89.70 %( direct) and 91.10% (stepwise) Conclusion: This study shows that these cephalometric parameters are sexually dimorphic and therefore could be used in sex determination especially in crime scenes where the body is mutilated but the head is left intact.Key Words discriminant function analysis, sex determination, Yoruba, Nigeria

Genetic determination of human facial morphology: links between cleft-lips and normal variation

Recent genome-wide association studies have identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P), and other previous studies showed distinctly differing facial distance measurements when comparing unaffected relatives of NSCL/P patients with normal controls. Here, we test the hypothesis that genetic loci involved in NSCL/P also influence normal variation in facial morphology. We tested 11 SNPs from 10 genomic regions previously showing replicated evidence of association with NSCL/P for association with normal variation of nose width and bizygomatic distance in two cohorts from Germany (N=529) and the Netherlands (N=2497). The two most significant associations found were between nose width and SNP rs1258763 near the GREM1 gene in the German cohort (P=6 × 10(-4)), and between bizygomatic distance and SNP rs987525 at 8q24.21 near the CCDC26 gene (P=0.017) in the Dutch sample. A genetic prediction model explained 2% of phenotype variation in nose width in the German and 0.5% of bizygomatic distance variation in the Dutch cohort. Although preliminary, our data provide a first link between genetic loci involved in a pathological facial trait such as NSCL/P and variation of normal facial morphology. Moreover, we present a first approach for understanding the genetic basis of human facial appearance, a highly intriguing trait with implications on clinical practice, clinical genetics, forensic intelligence, social interactions and personal identity.

Age dependant somatometric and cephalometric variables among Nigerians.

Background: The process of growth passes through stages of developmental processes. This stage is the age. Age is known to affect many parameters in the body and this includes somatometric and cephalometric variables. Methods: The study was conducted with a total number of 409 students of university of Jos, St Murumba and School of Higher Islamic Secondary School Jos. The following cephalometric and somatometric parameters were measured viz; Age, Weight, Height, Head width, Bizygomatic distance, Upper facial height, Outer canthal distance, Palpebral fissure length,Exaphthalmometric value, Ear width, Nose width were measured. Result: This study showed a positive relationship between age and weight, height, outer canthal distance, papebral fissure length, exophthalmometric value, nose width, bizygomatic distance (p 0.01) and head width (p 0.05). But it showed a negative significant relationship with ear width and upper facial length (p 0.01). Conclusion: It is concluded that the interrelation of age and the above studied somatometric and cephalometric parameters may give an understanding of craniofacial development and congenital anomalies. Key words: Age, Somatometric, Cephalometric.

Craniometric allometry in the thicktailed bushbabyOtolemur Crassicaudatus

Static adult craniometric allometry was evaluated in a sample of 66Otolemur crassicaudatus skulls (34 males, 32 females). Although cranial measures were equally well correlated to skull length in males and females, there were noteworthy differences in the exponential values between the sexes. These results underlined the need for caution when allometric analyses are based on pooled data. From the cranial allometric analyses it is concluded that the longer the skull, the shorter and the narrower the maxilla, and the broader the bizygomatic distance. Although cranial length increased proportionately to the increase in skull length, the cranial width in females was positively allometric whilst in males it was negatively allometric. Allometric analyses of mandibular dimensions suggest that larger animals will have proportionately longer mandibulae, which will, in turn, be relatively wider across the gonia, yet shallower behind the first molars. It is postulated that the disproportionate widening of the zygomata might be related to the widening across the gonia.