Dynamics of facial indices from 10 to 20 years of age: a comparison of direct anthropometry and photoanthropometry

Annals of Human Biology · Published 2026-07-06 · DOI 10.1080/03014460.2026.2689981

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Authors (9)

Egle Stukaite-Ruibiene, Jonas Tutkus, Stefanie Ritz-Timme, Cristina Cattaneo, Zuzana Obertova, Renata Simkunaite-Rizgeliene, Arunas Barkus, Simona Gervickaite, Janina Tutkuviene

Abstract

Background Facial indices are used for facial proportions analysis. So far, studies have investigated only a few indices or a narrow age range. Studies comparing direct anthropometry and photoanthropometry for facial analysis are contradictory.Aim The aim of this study was to analyse the dynamics of facial indices from 10 to 20 years of age and to determine the indices which were consistent between direct anthropometry and photoanthropometry.Subjects and methods Faces of 1376 participants were measured directly and photographed in the frontal plane. Craniofacial landmarks were identified, facial parameters were measured, 34 facial indices were calculated. Their dynamics and sexual differences were analysed.Results Interpupillary distance relative to morphological facial height gradually decreased while facial index increased. Zygomandibular index remained stable. Nasal index for boys varied the most. Nasal width relative to facial heights remained stable. Interpupillary distance in relation to morphological facial height and labial fissure width showed the best consistency between the two methods.Conclusion Eyes became relatively smaller. Faces grew vertically relatively more than horizontally. The nose became wider at a similar rate as the face grew vertically. Indices containing vertical measurements, eye parameters and labial fissure width coincided the most between the two methods.

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Publication details

Year
2026

Citation

Stukaite-Ruibiene, E., Tutkus, J., Ritz-Timme, S., et al. (2026). Dynamics of facial indices from 10 to 20 years of age: a comparison of direct anthropometry and photoanthropometry. Annals of Human Biology. https://doi.org/10.1080/03014460.2026.2689981

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