Abstract
Introduction: The face is an important part of the body that determines the unique features of each and every individual. Anthropometric study of the face includes the measurement of the facial bones of humans to analyze the morphology of the face, which provides valuable information regarding ethnicity and sexual dimorphism. The facial index, which is determined on the basis of facial height and facial width, is the most important parameter to evaluate the face. The present study aimed to determine the mean facial index, types of face, and sexual dimorphism among Nepalese undergraduate students.
Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy of Lumbini Medical College and Teaching Hospital. The study was carried out in 200 normal and healthy Nepalese undergraduate students (95 males and 105 females) within the age group of 18-25 years old. The data were recorded and analyzed using PSPP 2.1.1.
Results: The present study reported that the mean male facial index was significantly higher than the mean female facial index at p=0.015. The present study observed the higher incidence of mesoprosopic face (30.50%) followed by leptoprosopic (27.50%), euryprosopic (22%), hypereuryprosopic (11.50%) and hyperleptoprosopic face (8.50%).
Conclusions: The first step in the evaluation of patients undergoing surgical, orthodontic, and cosmetic procedures is facial analysis. So, the present study may be helpful to provide baseline facial index data for the Nepalese population, thereby contributing valuable information about the type of faces and to evaluate sexual dimorphism.
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