nasal index

noun

1. Craniometry. (of the skull) the ratio of the distance from nasion to the lower margin of the nasal aperture to that of the maximum breadth of the nasal aperture.
2. Cephalometry. (of the head) the ratio of the maximum breadth of the external nose to its height from the nasal root to where the septum is confluent with the upper lip.

nasal index

noun

1. the ratio of the widest part of the nose to its length multiplied by 100

Word History and Origins

Origin of nasal index¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

The nasal index varies from 84 to 140—a truly astonishing series of noses!

From Project Gutenberg

Only, the nasal index is somewhat smaller; on the whole, the nose has in its separate parts a decidedly pithecoid form.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus it will be seen that races with a nasal index of more than 100 have a nose wider than it is long.

From Project Gutenberg

One very dark-skinned and platyrhine individual, indeed, had a nasal index of 92.

From Project Gutenberg

Of the total, five are leptorhine—that is, have the “narrow” nose with nasal index below 70.

From Project Gutenberg