Parameters of Facial, Nasal, Maxillary, Mandibular and Oro-facial Heights of Adult Urhobos of Nigeria

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the mean values of facial, nasal, maxillary, mandibular and oro-facial heights of adult Urhobos: one of the ethnic groups in Nigeria and comparism with some other ethnic groups in Nigeria (Igbo and Ijaws) and Latvians; an ethnic group in Russia. One thousand (1000) subjects purely of Urhobo ethnic group were used for the study. The subjects comprised 500 males and 500 females with age range of 18 to 45 years. The facial height, nasal height, maxillary height, mandibular height and oro-facial height were measured using sliding caliper at established landmarks for the parameters. The results obtained showed that males had mean facial height of 12.18±1.63cm, nasal height of 4.85±0.65cm, maxillary height of 2.46(0.33cm, mandibular height of 4.89±0.65cm, oro-facial height of 7.33±0.98cm while females had mean facial height of 11.03±1.48cm, nasal height of 4.40±0.59cm, maxillary height of 2.33±0.31cm, mandibular height of 4.39±0.58cm, oro-facial height 6.67±0.89cm. Statistical analysis using the z-test showed that the males had significantly higher values than the females in all the oro-facial parameters measured (p<0.05). All variables were sexually dimorphic. The data obtained from this study could be useful in forensic investigation, craniofacial surgery and population study.