Analysis of nasal parameters and nasal index of dry crania in Southern Nigeria

Background: Nasal index shows the ratio of the width to the height of the nasal skeleton. It is useful in forensic science, anthropology and clinical medicine. The aim of this study was to analyse the nasal parameters and nasal index of dry cranium in Southern Nigeria.

Methods: Nasal height (ns-n) and nasal breadth (al-al) were measured with a Vernier caliper in 150 adult male crania in southeast and southsouth geopolitical regions of Nigeria. From these variables, nasal index was calculated as nasal breadth/nasal height x 100.

Results: For the southeast region, the values of nasal aperture height, nasal breadth and nasal index were 52.4 (±5.1) mm, 27.6 (±2.7) mm and 53.0 (±5.4) respectively. For the southsouth region, the values of the nasal height, nasal breadth and nasal index were 49.8 (±3.1) mm, 26.9 (±4.2) mm and 54.1(±7.4) respectively. Nasal height was significantly higher in southeast region than in southsouth region. There was no significant difference in the nasal breadth and nasal index in the two regions.

Conclusions: The crania in the southern part of Nigeria exhibit platyrrhine type of nasal index