MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE NASAL SHAPES AND ANGLES IN YOUNG ADULT FEMALES IN OBIO/AKPOR LGA

Background: The human nose plays a crucial role in respiration, olfaction, and facial aesthetics, with its morphology being influenced by genetic, environmental, and evolutionary factors. This study therefore aimed to perform a detailed morphometric analysis of nasal shapes and angles among adult females in Obio/Akpor LGA. Materials: A cross-sectional descriptive design was adopted. Three hundred (300) adult females aged 18–55 years, indigenes of Obio/Akpor LGA, were recruited through stratified random sampling. Direct anthropometric measurements were obtained using a digital vernier caliper to determine nasal length and width, while photographic images were analyzed via photogrammetric software to measure nasofrontal and nasolabial angles. The nasal index (NI) was calculated as (nasal width / nasal height) × 100. Descriptive statistics, one-sample t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson’s correlation were performed using SPSS version 25, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Results revealed a mean nasal length of 4.07 ± 0.30 cm, nasal width of 3.62 ± 0.31 cm, and mean nasal index of 89.02 ± 7.36, classifying the majority as platyrrhine (broad-nosed). The mean nasofrontal and nasolabial angles were 125.12° ± 3.36 and 104.18° ± 5.06 respectively. A one-sample t-test indicated a significant difference between the mean nasal index and the Nigerian national reference (p = 0.020), implying slightly broader noses among Obio/Akpor females. ANOVA showed significant age-related variations in nasal width and nasal index but not in nasal length or angular parameters. Correlation analysis revealed a weak positive relationship between nasal index and nasofrontal angles (r = 0.119, p = 0.039) and a moderate positive correlation between nasofrontal and nasolabial angles (r = 0.293, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The study concludes that adult females in Obio/Akpor LGA possess predominantly platyrrhine nasal morphology, consistent with southern Nigerian populations adapted to humid tropical environments. These findings provide valuable baseline data for clinical rhinoplasty, forensic identification, and anthropological comparison.