Numerical analysis of the human nostril by the Fourier series.

Fourier series has been applied in a numerical analysis of the human nostril morphology. The relationship between the nostril form and the Fourier coefficients was examined: the constant affected the size, the first term determined the roundness, and the second term determined the flatness of the morphology. The inclination of the apse line was calculated from the phase of the second term. Ninety-five standardized nostril photographs were analyzed by Fourier series: 48 of adult Japanese females and 47 of German females. The German nostril was larger in size, flatter in shape, and the apse line closer to the sagittal plane than the Japanese counterpart. As a clinical application of nostril digitization, pre- and post-operative cleft lip noses were analyzed. Fourier analysis has proved to be useful in a numerical evaluation of morphological differences of, and post-operative changes made to, the nostril.