ANTHROPOMETRIC CHARACTERIZATION OF NASAL PARAMETERS IN ADULTS OYEMEKUN ETHNIC GROUP IN AKURE SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

Abstract

Background: This study was conducted to provide baseline data of the nasal ergonomics for male and female and to identify the differences in Nasal parameters of male and female oyemekun ethnic group in Akure southwest Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The sample comprised of one hundred and twenty five (125) males and one hundred twenty (125) females of oyemekun descendant. The ages of the subjects ranged from 18-65years. Nasal Length (NL), Nasal Height (NH), Nasal Width (NW), Nasal Depth (ND) was obtained with the aid of a sliding caliper and nasal indices were calculated as the ratio of nasal width and nasal height multiplied by 100. The data were subjected to statistical analysis using descriptive statistics and t-test. Results: Males had mean nasal Length, Height, Width, Depth and index of 2.93cm, 3.10cm, 3.07cm, 0.26cm, and 98.92 respectively, while those of females were 1.97cm, 2.44cm, 2.27, 0.21 and 92.94 respectively. The mean nasal index of the oyemekun males was significantly higher than that of the females (P<0.05). The oyemekun ethnic group has a mean nasal index of 96.91. The result of this study shows that the mean nasal index of the oyemekun ethnic group falls within the platyrrhine (broad nose) type. Conclusion: This study thus shows that age and gender based data in this study may be useful in Forensic and anthropological research, as well as cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. KEY WORDS: Anthropometric, Nasal Parameters, Adults Oyemekun, Akure.