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5. Toward a non-contradictory explanation of the climate-related variation of the nasal cavity and mid-face

Toward a non-contradictory explanation of the climate-related variation of the nasal cavity and mid-face

Evteev A.A.

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Anuchin Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology, Mokhovaya st., 11, Moscow, 125009, Russia

Evteev Andrej A., PhD, Dr. Hab.; ORCID ID: 0000-0002-6254-1203; evteandr@gmail.com.

Abstract

Introduction. While the "Thomson-Buxton rule" describing the association between climate and the shape of the nasal aperture, and the nasal cavity in general, has been consistently confirmed at the global level, more detailed analyses at lower geographic scales reveal somehow contradictory results. The aim of this review was to summarize published data on the ecogeographic trends for the external and internal parts of the nasal cavity and mid-face in order to formulate a set of non-contradictory principles of the climate-related variation of these structures. Materials and methods. All the publications on the subject written in English and Russian languages were considered with an emphasis on the recent works on North Eurasian samples that employed uniform protocols and were concerned with both external and internal aspects of the respiratory part of the facial skeleton. Results and discussion. Proportions of the anterior nasal cavity are more important than its height and width separately. An increase in the total length of the nasal cavity might be achieved by both increasing nasal protrusion and by sagittal lengthening of the maxilla, but a strong nasal protrusion is a disadvantageous trait in frosty climates. The shape and surface area of the internal nasal cavity are more important than its total volume. Conclusion. Most of the apparent contradictions between different studies on the ecogeographic variation of the facial skeleton can be reconciled by applying the concept of homoplasy, or convergent evolution: similar functional outcomes in morphologically distinct populations might be achieved via different morphogenetic mechanisms.

Keywords

human climatic adaptation; cranial morphology; North Eurasia; respiratory physiology

DOI: 10.32521/2074-8132.2022.2.078-084

Цит.: Evteev A.A. Toward a non-contradictory explanation of the climate-related variation of the nasal cavity and mid-face // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2022; 2/2022; с. 78-84 (Published: July 14, 2022)