Vertical facial height and proportions of face among Hausa-Fulani children differ from those of other ethnic groups
Utomi IL. Vertical Facial Height and Proportions of Face in Hausa - Fulani Children in Northern Nigeria. Niger Postgrad Med J. 2004 Mar;11(1):32-36.
Department of Child Dental Health, College of Medicine, University of Lagos. P.M.B 12003, Lagos, Nigeria.
Objective:To determine the vertical facial height and proportions of face in Hausa-Fulani children. Materials and Methods: 100 subjects aged 11-13 years of Hausa-Fulani ancestry and with no previous orthodontic treatment were selected for the study. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were traced and measurements made to produce values for-Upper Anterior Facial Height (UAFH), Lower Anterior Facial Height (LAFH), Lower Posterior Facial Height (LPFH), and Total Posterior Facial Height (TPFH). From these measurements the various ratios were then derived. Results: The range of normal values in both sexes for UAFH =53.1-57.8mm with a mean value of 55.8+ 3.9mm: LAFH =67.6- 73.8mm with a mean value of 70.7 4.9mm;LPFH =42.0-47.7mm with a mean of 44.7+4.6mm; TPFH=73.0- 80.7mm with a mean value of 44.7+4.6mm; TPFH= 73.0-80.7mm with a mean value of 76.7+ 6.0 mm. UAFH/TAFH was 44.2% for males and 44.1% for females. LPFH/TPFH was constant (58.4%) for both sexes.TPFH/TAFH was 61.5% for males and 63.0% for females. Conclusions: Vertical facial height and proportions of face among Hausa-Fulani children differ from those of other ethnic groups and should be used in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning in Hausa-Fulani children. KEY WORDS: face, Hausa-Fulani, height, proportion.
Porter JP, Olson KL. Analysis of the African American female nose. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2003 Feb;111(2):620-6; discussion 627-8.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA. jportermd@aol.com
The African American nose has been broadly classified as ethnic yet it differs significantly in morphology from that of other ethnic groups with which it is categorized. The objectives of this study were to (1) establish an objective protocol for analysis of the African American female nose using anthropometric measurements, and (2) determine whether subjective subcategorization schemes are a reliable replacement for anthropometry. African American women (n = 107) between the ages of 18 and 30 years consented to participate in this study. Photographs and 14 standard anthropometric measurements were taken of the face and nasal region, including nose length, nose width, special upper face height, intercanthal distance, mouth width, nasal bridge inclination, nasal tip protrusion, ala thickness, nasal root width, nasal bridge length, tangential length of ala, length of columella, nasofrontal angle, and nasolabial angle. Nasal indices including nose width-nose height index, nasal tip protrusion-nose height index, and nasal tip protrusion-nasal width index were calculated. In addition, photographic analysis was performed to evaluate nostril shape, nasal base shape, and nasal dorsal height. Proportional relationships and subcategorization schemes were evaluated. A new method of nasal analysis for the African American woman uses the proportional relationships of the anthropometric measurements. Proportional relationships included a columellar to lobule ratio of 1.5:1, a nasolabial angle of 86 degrees, and an alar width to intercanthal distance ratio of 5:4. The nasal dorsal height classification scheme was the most reliable for subjective analysis. The degree of variability found within this group of young African American women is illustrated by the following indices and their respective ranges: nose width-nose height index mean, 79.7 (range, 57 to 102); nasal tip protrusion-nose height index mean, 33.8 (range, 23 to 46); and nasal tip protrusion-nose width index mean, 42.8 (range, 32 to 61). The guidelines provided are a baseline from which to begin analysis and evaluation.
Vanezis M, Vanezis P, Minnis H, McMillan A, Gillies M, Smith S. The creation of inter-ethnic images for studies in applied psychology. Med Sci Law. 2003 Oct;43(4):301-6.
Department of Forensic Medicine and Science, University of Glasgow.
The facial transformation programme, is an integral part of the computerised three-dimensional facial reconstruction system, employed at the University of Glasgow for forensic and historical cases. It was applied to the creation of inter-ethnic images for use in studies to assess the response of various groups to facial appearance in the assessment of racial stereotyping. We initially acquired a three-dimensional facial image from a young black (Negroid) male volunteer, using our optical laser scanning system. This image was then used as a template over a Caucasian skull to produce a reconstruction using facial criteria applicable to white (Caucasian) males. The other image used was that of the facial template of the black male. A commercially available electronic identikit system, E-FIT was then used to add appropriate hair styles and open eyes to both images. In addition, on the 'Caucasian reconstruction' we were able to reduce the contrast and lighting on the face. This was relatively straightforward as we were using greyscale images rather than colour. The shape of the nose and lips on the white male were also altered to be more in keeping with Caucasoid average measurements. The resulting images were shown to a group of second-year clinical psychology students and their responses are discussed. Similar images may also be used in studies of racial stereotyping in different categories of professionals such as police, prison personnel, probation officers, social workers, potential employers, doctors, and others, in order to assess the response to individuals by facial appearance.
Ochi K, Ohashi T. The effects of an external nasal dilator and nasal dimensions in Asians. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2002 Feb;126(2):160-3.
Department of Otolaryngology, St Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan. k2ochi@marianna-u.ac.jp
OBJECTIVES: We examined the potential correlation between the effectiveness of an external nasal dilator for Asians and nasal dimensions. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTINGS: The length, width, and height of the subjects' nose were measured. From these parameters, a nasal index (nasal width/nasal length) and a basal view index (columella height/nasal width) were calculated. Nasal airway resistances with and without an external nasal dilator were measured. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between both nasal index and basal view index and the changes in nasal resistance that resulted from wearing an external nasal dilator, whereas no significant correlation was detected between each of the 3 nasal dimensions and changes in nasal resistance. CONCLUSIONS: Noses with a smaller nasal index or a larger basal view index receive greater benefits from the wearing of an external nasal dilator. The effects of external nasal dilators are influenced by nasal shape rather than by individual nasal dimensions in Asians.
Friess M, Baylac M. Exploring artificial cranial deformation using elliptic Fourier analysis of Procrustes aligned outlines. Am J Phys Anthropol. 2003 Sep;122(1):11-22.
New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY 10024, USA. mfriess@amnh.org
The anatomical effects of artificial cranial deformation on the face and the base have been subject to various metric approaches, including standard linear as well as finite element techniques, and have produced controversial results (Anton [1989] Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 79:253-267; Kohn et al. [1993] Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 90:147-158). It can be argued that diverging observations partly result from methodological constraints. The present study compares samples of intentionally deformed and undeformed human crania, using elliptic Fourier analysis (EFA), a morphometric approach which has been shown to be particularly appropriate for characterizing the shape of two-dimensional outlines and associated shape changes. We improve the standard EFA approach by adding a preliminary orientation of the outlines following the rotation parameters of a Procrustes superimposition, using multiple homologous landmarks called control points. The results confirm that circumferentially deformed skulls exhibit modifications of the basioccipital region, together with increased anterior and inferior facial projection. However, the degree to which basioccipital flattening is modified in circumferentially deformed Peruvians was found to be less marked than changes observed in the face. Some of the modifications observed here can be related to morphological trends existing in the population from which our sample was taken. The observation of other modifications may be subject to methodological constraints of standard morphometric approaches. Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
So, the obvious implication is that information about facial height and proportions could be an element of a generated composite picture derived from DNA analysis, specifically ancestry. There are several different lines of research which I have come across, all of which could be input to such a composite picture generation platform.
