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Publisher: Peytchinski Publishing Ltd.
ISSN: 1312-773X (Online)
Issue: 2026, vol. 32, issue3
Subject Area: Medicine
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DOI: 10.5272/jimab.2026323.7013
Published online: 07 August 2026
Original article
J of IMAB. 2026 Jul-Sep;32(3):7013-7017
ANTHROPOMETRIC STUDY OF NASAL INDEX OF YOUNG BULGARIANS BY 3D LASER SCANNING
Tsvetanka Petleshkova
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Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
ABSTRACT:
Introduction: The size and shape of the external nose have been the subject of numerous studies. The objective data provided by these studies is essential for the successful performance of various surgical and aesthetic procedures, as well as for the assessment of genetic syndromes and malformations.
The aim of the present study was to provide information about the type of nose in young Bulgarians, males and females.
Material/Methods: The three-dimensional coordinates of several soft-tissue landmarks on the face were obtained using a hand-held laser scanner in 85 healthy individuals (41 males and 44 females) of Bulgarian origin aged 21-30 years. Using these three-dimensional landmarks, the following linear distances were measured (mm): nasal height (n-sn), nasal width (alr-all). Based on the nasal width and nasal height, a nasal index was calculated (nasal width /nasal height x100).
Results: The results of the study indicate that the highest percentage of the studied males and females possessed high and narrow noses, lepthorrhine, 77.8% and 51.4%, respectively. The proportion of females exhibiting a very high and narrow nose hyperleptorrhine was found to exceed that observed in males, with percentages of 48.7% and 22.2%, respectively. Statistically significant gender differences in percentage distribution were found in both categories (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Data obtained from nasal measurements in healthy individuals from different populations will provide objective norms and criteria in planning and reporting treatment outcomes in different areas of medical practice.
Keywords: 3D laser scanning, Nasal index, Bulgarians,
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Please cite this article as: Petleshkova T. Anthropometric study of Nasal Index of young Bulgarians by 3D laser scanning. J of IMAB. 2026 Jul-Sep;32(3):7013-7017. [Crossref - 10.5272/jimab.2026323.7013]
Correspondence to: Tsvetanka Petleshkova, PhD, Department of Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University – Plovdiv; 15 A, Vassil Aprilov, blvd., Plovdiv – 4002, Bulgaria. E-mail: Tsvetanka.Petleshkova@mu-plovdiv.bg
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Received: 06 January 2026
Published online: 07 August 2026