Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Anthropometry is the systematic quantitative representation of the human body, it is used to measure the absolute and relative variability in size and shape of the human body. Scientists were studying this knowledge in medicine for both diagnosis and treatment.
The people of Basrah are a mixture of Semites, Arian, and there are the mixed group result from interracial marriages.
OBJECTIVE:
To quantitatively measure the human face in different ethnic groups of local population and to identify the differences between individuals of different races and sexes, also to identify the differences between the people of Iraq and other people worldwide.
MATERIAL AND METHODS:
This study is a cross sectional study conducted in Basrah governorate. The data was randomly collected for the period from February to July 2013, from 1000 Iraqi adults (526 females and 474 males) living throughout Basrah governorate. They were between the ages of 18- 40 years, and had to meet certain criteria. This sample was used to create a database for statistical analysis.
RESULTS:
The results show that the measurements of the three sections and four sections facial profile are unequal as stated by neoclassical canons. The ears are longer than the nose. There are slight differences between the intercanthal distance (ICD) and alar width. The palpebral fissure length is equal to the ICD. The mouth width is 1.4 times the nose width. The facial width (zy- zy) is 3.4 times the nose (alae) width.
CONCLUSION:
There are differences in facial measurements, although slight, between different ethnic groups in Iraq, and between Iraqi population in general and the population of other countries, therefore, aesthetic measurements applied to all races are inapplicable. These slight differences could be attributed to interracial marriages and or environmental effect.