ANTHROPOMETRIC STUDY OF THE NASAL INDEX OF THE BHEEL – MEENA TRIBE OF SOUTHERN RAJASTHAN -

The study was conducted to identify reference standards and possible aesthetic features of the nasal size and form of the adult tribal population of Southern Rajasthan. The sample comprised of 500 males and 500 females of the Bheel- Meena descent, residing in the Southern parts of Rajasthan with their ages ranging between 18-50 years. Nasal height and nasal width were obtained with the aid of a sliding vernier calliper and the nasal indices were calculated as the ratio of nasal breadth and nasal height multiplied by 100. The data was subjected to statistical analysis using descriptive statistics and ‘t’ test. The observed mean values for the males for the nasal breadth, nasal length and nasal index were found to be 3.81cm, 4.59cm and 83.00, while the same values for the female were 3.50cm, 4.39cm and 79.73 respectively. The calculated means for the males population was significantly higher than that of females ( p < 0.001 ). With the mean nasal index of 81.36 for the Bheel –Meena tribe, it falls within the mesorrhine type of nasal form.