title: Morphometric measurements and sexual dimorphism of the piriform aperture in adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the dimensions (maximal width and length), the size and the shape of the PA and their sexual dimorphism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using 3D-CT scan reconstructions and landmarks positioning around the piriform aperture and on the face, a collective of 170 non-pathologic subjects (79 female, 91 male) from Marseille (France) was examined in classical and geometric morphometrics methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean width of the piriform aperture was 24.00 mm in females and 25.32 mm in males, the mean length was 32.54 mm in females and 36.35 mm in males. The difference between males and females was significant, and our data correlates well with the previously data acquired from humans skulls. Facial measurements also showed a statistically significant dimorphism. In morphometric geometrics, the correlation between the centroïd size and PC1 in the shape space was weak, while this correlation was strong in the size and shape space. Visualization of shape differences was achieved on 2D wireframes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Shape and size analysis of the piriform aperture showed the existence of a significant sexual dimorphism. These results encourage us to go further with functional and imaging correlations.
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Anthropologie Bio-Culturelle, Droit, Éthique et Santé (ADÉS), UMR 7268, Université d'Aix-Marseille-EFS-CNRS, Boulevard Pierre-Dramard, 13344, Marseille, France, eric.moreddu@etu.univ-amu.fr.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moreddu
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Puymerail
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.forename: Michaël
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Achache
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dessi
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adalian
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009666:Nose / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult