Facial features may reflect an individual’s probability of survival because of natural selection—for example, through reproduction and feeding abilities. However, questions remain about which facial characteristics contribute to facial masculinity and/or femininity across races. Given that sexual dimorphism stems from the common natural selection process, it is hypothesized that there is cross-racial consistency in sexual dimorphism of facial forms. Examining the extent to which sex differences in facial soft tissue configurations are similar across diverse populations could suggest the source of the indirect evolutionary benefits of facial sexual dimorphism traits. To explore this idea, we selected two geographically distinct races. Three-dimensional model faces were derived from 272 Turkish and Japanese men and women; their facial morphologies were evaluated using landmark and surface-based analyses. We found four common facial features related to sexual dimorphism. Both Turkish and Japanese females had a shorter lower face height, a flatter forehead, greater sagittal cheek protrusion in the infraorbital region but less prominence of the cheek in the parotid-masseteric region, and an antero-posteriorly smaller nose when compared with their male counterparts. We also discussed the possible phylogenetic contribution of masticatory organ function and morphogenesis on sexual dimorphism of the human face.

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No competing interests reported.
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
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Posted 22 Feb, 2021
On 06 Apr, 2021
Received 25 Mar, 2021
On 08 Mar, 2021
Invitations sent on 07 Mar, 2021
On 01 Mar, 2021
On 17 Feb, 2021
On 16 Feb, 2021
On 07 Feb, 2021
Posted 22 Feb, 2021
On 06 Apr, 2021
Received 25 Mar, 2021
On 08 Mar, 2021
Invitations sent on 07 Mar, 2021
On 01 Mar, 2021
On 17 Feb, 2021
On 16 Feb, 2021
On 07 Feb, 2021
Facial features may reflect an individual’s probability of survival because of natural selection—for example, through reproduction and feeding abilities. However, questions remain about which facial characteristics contribute to facial masculinity and/or femininity across races. Given that sexual dimorphism stems from the common natural selection process, it is hypothesized that there is cross-racial consistency in sexual dimorphism of facial forms. Examining the extent to which sex differences in facial soft tissue configurations are similar across diverse populations could suggest the source of the indirect evolutionary benefits of facial sexual dimorphism traits. To explore this idea, we selected two geographically distinct races. Three-dimensional model faces were derived from 272 Turkish and Japanese men and women; their facial morphologies were evaluated using landmark and surface-based analyses. We found four common facial features related to sexual dimorphism. Both Turkish and Japanese females had a shorter lower face height, a flatter forehead, greater sagittal cheek protrusion in the infraorbital region but less prominence of the cheek in the parotid-masseteric region, and an antero-posteriorly smaller nose when compared with their male counterparts. We also discussed the possible phylogenetic contribution of masticatory organ function and morphogenesis on sexual dimorphism of the human face.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6
No competing interests reported.
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
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