Mesorrhine is a word used in nasal classification, describing noses with moderate widths. The word is spelled "meso-" meaning middle or moderate, and "rhine" meaning nose. The IPA transcription for mesorrhine is /mɛsəˈraɪn/, where the "e" in "meso" is pronounced as a short "e" like in "met" and the "a" in "rhine" is pronounced as a long "i" like in "mine". Spelling correctly is important as it allows the term to be used accurately in medical and scientific contexts.
Mesorrhine is an adjective that is primarily used in the field of anthropology to describe a specific nose shape or nasal index. It refers to the intermediate or moderate nasal category between two extremes - leptorrhine and platyrrhine.
A mesorrhine nose is characterized by having nasal passages that are neither overly slender nor excessively broad. The term is derived from the Greek words "meso," meaning middle or intermediate, and "rhinos," meaning nose. When examining the nasal index, which measures the width of the nasal opening relative to its height, a mesorrhine nose typically falls within a range that is considered to be average or moderate.
Anthropologists and researchers use the classification of nasal types to study and understand human variation and evolution. A mesorrhine nose is often associated with individuals from certain populations, regions, or ethnic groups. It is important to note that this classification system is based on general observations and cannot solely determine a person's ancestry or race. Additionally, the term mesorrhine is mainly used in academic and scientific contexts and may not be commonly understood in everyday conversation.
In summary, mesorrhine is an anthropological term used to describe an intermediate or average nose shape with nasal passages that are of moderate width.
Having a nose of moderate width. Noting a skull with a nasal index from 47 to 51 (Frankfort agreement) or 48 to 53 (Broca).
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "mesorrhine" derives from the combination of two Greek roots: "mesos" meaning "middle" and "rhinos" meaning "nose".
The term "mesorrhine" is used in anthropology and physical anthropology to describe a specific nasal shape or form found in some human populations. It refers to a nose that exhibits characteristics between the two extremes of nose shapes: "leptorrhine" (a narrow or slender nose) and "platyrrhine" (a wide or flat nose).
It's important to note that "mesorrhine" is a technical term specific to anthropology and is not commonly used in everyday language.