title: Morphometric Study of Nasal Bone and Piriform Aperture in Human Dry Skull of Indian Origin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nasal bone and piriform aperture shows racial and geographical differences because of variable climate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dimensions (maximal width and length), the size and the shape of the piriform aperture (PA) and their sexual dimorphism in North Indian adult.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this observational study, dimension of piriform aperture and nasal bone were measured using digital vernier caliper after assessing landmarks around the piriform aperture on the norma frontalis in Frankfurt plane in 40 skull of Indian orgin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean width of the piriform aperture was 24.9±1.59 mm in males and 22.77±1.57 mm in females, the mean length was 29.57±3.28mm in females and 31.16±3.58mm in males. The difference between males and females was significant, and our data correlates well with the previously data acquired from humans skulls. Most of North Indian skulls have platyrhine type of piriform aperture (triangular to oval shape with pyriform aperture index of 0.79). Mean length and width of nasal bone were 17.58±2.47mm and 12.1±0.97mm respectively without sexual.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Shape and size analysis of the piriform aperture and nasal bone showed the existence of a significant sexual dimorphism. These results encourage us to go further with functional and imaging correlations. This study will also be helpful in forensic research and anthropology.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, UPRIMSR Saifai Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Adil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asghar
authors.affiliation: Demonstrator, Department of Anatomy, UPRIMSR Saifai Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Aparna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dixit
authors.affiliation: Junior Resident, Department of Anatomy, UPRIMSR Saifai Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Mamta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rani
keywords: Dimensions; Nose; Sexual dimorphism