Morphometric measurements and sexual dimorphism of the piriform aperture in adults

Purpose

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.

Conclusion

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.