Variation of facial features among three African populations: Body height match analyses.

Body height is one of the variables that show a correlation with facial craniometry. Here we seek to discriminate the three populations (Nigerians, Ugandans and Kenyans) using facial craniometry based on different categories of body height of adult males. A total of 513 individuals comprising 234 Nigerians, 169 Ugandans and 110 Kenyans with mean age of 25.27, s=5.13 (18-40 years) participated. Paired and unpaired facial features were measured using direct craniometry. Multivariate and stepwise discriminate function analyses were used for differentiation of the three populations. The result showed significant overall facial differences among the three populations in all the body height categories. Skull height, total facial height, outer canthal distance, exophthalmometry, right ear width and nasal length were significantly different among the three different populations irrespective of body height categories. Other variables were sensitive to body height. Stepwise discriminant function analyses included maximum of six variables for better discrimination between the three populations. The single best discriminator of the groups was total facial height, however, for body height >1.70m the single best discriminator was nasal length. Most of the variables were better used with function 1, hence, better discrimination than function 2. In conclusion, adult body height in addition to other factors such as age, sex, and ethnicity should be considered in making decision on facial craniometry. However, not all the facial linear dimensions were sensitive to body height.

Study of lip print types among Nigerians.

Lip prints in a narrow sense are normal lines and fissures in the form of wrinkles and grooves present in the zone of transition of lips. The aims of this study were to determine the types and association of lip prints as well as the role of the lip print as genetic marker in ethnic differentiation in multi-ethnic population of Nigeria. A total of 820 individuals (414 males and 406 females) participated. The study sample was drawn from different ethnic groups of Nigeria. The three major ethnic groups were identified and the minor groups were lumped together. This was to provide clear evidence on the ethnic differentiation based on lip print types among Nigerians. The lip prints were collected on microscopic glass slides and developed using carbon black powder. Each print was then divided into 10 compartments and analyzed using a magnifying lens. Chi-squared test was used for association between ethnicity and lip print types; p<0.05 was set as a level of significance. The result of the study showed the following lip print pattern in Nigerian population where Type V (31.39%) was predominant, followed by Type III (24.18%), Type IV (18.70%), Type I (14.87%), Type II (10.29%) and least frequent was Type I' (0.57%). Statistically significant association (p<0.05) of lip print types with ethnicity was found in upper left lateral compartments (ULL). It was concluded that lip prints show ethnic differences. Hence, they may hold potential promise as a supplementary tool in ethnic differentiation and in personal identification.

Regression equation for estimation of length of humerus from its mophometry in a Nigerian population.

BACKGROUND: While intact long bones are most ideal in estimation of the stature of unidentified individual, in forensic cases as may occur when natural or man-made disasters present bone fragments, regression equations derived from measurements of these bone fragments have been used to determine the length of the intact long bone. OBJECTIVE: The study reports on the morphometry of the humerus and the estimation of its length using regression equations in a Nigerian population. METHODS: The maximum length of the humerus was measured using an osteometric board while theAnatomical neck circumference (ANC), Anatomical neck diameter (AND), mid shaft diameter (MSD), olecranon vertical diameter (OVD), olecranon transverse diameter (OTD), transverse diameter of the inferior articular surface (IASD), transverse trochlea diameter (TTD) proximal point of the caput humeri and collum anatomicum (CHCAD), proximal edge of the fossa olecrani (PEFO) and the most distal point of trochlea humeri (FOTHD) and the biepicondylar width (BEW) of the distal segment were measured using a digital vernier caliper. Partial correlation and Persian regression were used to derive the linear regression equations for the measured parameters that showed correlation with the humeral length. RESULTS: Estimation of the maximum length of the humerus from the measures of its ANC, FOTHD, and MSD was achieved with relative accuracy. In deriving regression equations for the length of the humerus of the right and left sides, irrespective of side, the ANC and MSD were both significant in estimating the maximum length of the humerus; on the right side only the ANC exhibited significant correlation, while on the left side both the ANC and FOTHD exhibited significant correlation. CONCLUSION: These previously unreported findings may help in anthropometric, forensic, and archaeological investigations for the estimation of the stature of the remains of unknown bodies by using regression equations in a Nigerian population.