ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There is no normative craniofacial anthropometric data for the Kenyan-African population. The purpose of this investigation was to determine normative anthropometric craniofacial measurements and proportional relationships for Kenyans of African descent and to compare the data with African Americans (AA), North American Whites (NAW), and neoclassical canons. METHODS: Twenty-five direct facial anthropometric measurements, and 4 angular measurements, were taken on 72 Kenyan-African participants (age range 18–30 years) recruited at the University of Nairobi in Kenya. The data were compared with AA and NAW populations, and neoclassical canons. Descriptive statistics of the variables were computed for the study population. RESULTS: Significant differences between both Kenyan males and females were detected in forehead height (~ 5 mm greater for males, ~ 4.5 mm for females), nasal height (reduced by ~ 4 mm in males, ~ 3 mm in females), nasal width (8–9 mm greater), upper lip height (> 3 mm), and eye width (greater by ~ 3 mm) compared to NAW subjects. All vertical measurements obtained were significantly different compared with NAW. Differences were observed in comparison with AA subjects, but less marked. Mouth width was similar in all groups. Angular measurements were variable. Neoclassical canons did not apply to the Kenyan population. CONCLUSIONS: Anthropometric measurements of NAW showed clear differences when compared with the Kenyan population, and variations exist with comparative AA data. The anthropometric data in terms of linear measurements, angular measurements, and proportional values described may serve as a database for facial analysis in the Kenyan-African population.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Black or African American , Anthropometry , Forehead , Kenya , Lip , MouthABSTRACT
The measurement of craniofacial parameters have clinical, forensic and anthropologic significance. Local data on inner canthal and outer canthal distances and the canthal index may reveal the pattern of differential growth in craniofacial features resulting from factors such as sex, diet and genetic distinctions. In the present study, we provide normative data on canthal distances in a Nigerian population which has not been studied previously, utilizing a study design which optimises the effect of age and minimise bias and confounding than previous studies in Nigerian groups. The mean inner canthal distance was 1.85 +/-0.30cm and 2.07 +/- 0.29cm (males vs. females, p= 0.000); mean outer canthal distance, 10.39 +/- 0.56cm and 10.40 +/- 0.98cm (males vs. female, p= 0.899). The results were found to be considerably lower than what has been reported among Nigerian groups.
La medición de parámetros craneofaciales tiene importancia clínica, forense y antropológica. Los datos locales sobre la distancia cantal interna y cantal externa y el índice cantal puede revelar el patrón de crecimiento diferencial en las características craneofaciales como resultado de factores como el sexo, la dieta y las diferencias genéticas. En el presente estudio, se proporcionan datos normativos sobre la distancia cantal en una población de Nigeria que no ha sido estudiada previamente, utilizando un diseño de estudio que optimiza el efecto de la edad, como también minimiza el sesgo y la confusión de estudios anteriores en los grupos de Nigeria. La media de distancia cantal interna fue de 1,85 +/- 0,30cm y 2,07 +/- 0,29cm (hombres v/s mujeres, p = 0,000), mientras que la media de distancia cantal externa fue 10,39 +/- 0,56cm y 10,40 +/- 0,98cm (hombres v/s mujeres, p = 0,899). Los resultados de este estudio son considerablemente más bajos que lo que se han reportado previamente para los grupos nigerianos.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Cephalometry/methods , Facial Bones/anatomy & histology , Facial Bones/growth & development , Anthropology, Medical/methods , Anthropometry/methods , Body Weights and Measures , Nigeria/ethnologyABSTRACT
Objective: This study was done to establish the craniofacial anthropometric norms of the young adult (18- 25 years) Malaysian Indian. Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of convenient samples of 100 healthy volunteers, with equal number of female and male subjects who had no history of mixed racial-parentage. Twenty-two linear measurements were taken twice from 28 landmarks over six craniofacial regions. The methodology and evaluation of indices of the craniofacial region was adapted from Hajnis et al. Results: The minimum measurements are always contributed by the female Indian except for the nose height (n-sn), (left) eye fissure length (ex-en), upper vermillion height (ls-sto), and lower vermillion height (sto-li). There is a gender difference in all the measurements except the (left) eye fissure height (independent t-test; P < 0.05). The Malaysian Indians exhibit some North American White Caucasian (NAWC) features in all regions. The cephalic index indicates a brachycephalic or relatively short wide head with a tendency towards mesocephaly. From the low nasal index, the Malaysian Indian female have a nose that is narrow or leptorrhin similar to the NAWCs. The lower value of the upper lip height to mouth width index in the Indian female indicates a relatively shorter upper lip height compared to the mouth width, also similar to the NAWC. Conclusion: This study establishes the craniofacial anthropometric norms of the Malaysian Indian over 22 parameters. Male in general has a significantly higher measurement than female. The Malaysian Indians do exhibit some NAWC features.