Climatic adaptation in human inferior nasal turbinate morphology
Evidence from Arctic and equatorial populations
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 8317606 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Tarah N Marks (Department of Anthropology University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa), Tarah Marks (University of Iowa), Scott D Maddux (0000-0002-0208-2770, Center for Anatomical Sciences University of North Texas Health Science Center Fort Worth Texas, corresponding author), Lauren N Butaric (0000-0003-3743-2408, Department of Anatomy Des Moines University Des Moines Iowa), Robert G Franciscus (Department of Anthropology University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa) |
| Year | 2019 |
| Volume | 169 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 498-512 |
| Publication date | 2019-07-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | American Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1002/ajpa.23840 |
| PMID | 30993687 |
| OpenAlex | W2940101333 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 6 |
| References cited | 118 |
OBJECTIVES: The nasal turbinates directly influence the overall size, shape, and surface area of the nasal passages, and thus contribute to intranasal heat and moisture exchange. However, unlike the encapsulating walls of the nasal cavity, ecogeographic variation in nasal turbinate morphology among humans has not yet been established. Here we investigate variation in inferior nasal turbinate morphology in two populations from climatically extreme environments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three linear measurements of the inferior turbinate, nasal cavity walls, and airway passages were collected from CT scans of indigenous modern human crania from Equatorial Africa (n = 35) and the Arctic Circle (n = 35). MANOVA and ANCOVA were employed to test for predicted regional and sex differences in morphology between the samples. RESULTS: Significant morphological differences were identified between the two regional samples, with no evidence of significant sexual dimorphism or region-sex interaction effect. Individuals from the Arctic Circle possessed superoinferiorly and mediolaterally larger inferior turbinates compared to Equatorial Africans. In conjunction with the surrounding nasal cavity walls, these differences in turbinate morphology produced airway dimensions that were both consistent with functional expectations and more regionally distinct than either skeletal component independently. CONCLUSION: This study documents the existence of ecogeographic variation in human nasal turbinate morphology reflecting climate-mediated evolutionary demands on intranasal heat and moisture exchange. Humans adapted to cold-dry environments exhibit turbinate morphologies that enhance contact between respired air and nasal mucosa to facilitate respiratory air conditioning. Conversely, humans adapted to hot-humid environments exhibit turbinate morphologies that minimize air-to-mucosa contact, likely to minimize airflow resistance and/or facilitate expiratory heat-shedding
Biology · Morphology (biology) · Mucous membrane of nose · Nasal cavity · Nose · Turbinates · Zoology · Anatomy · Cleft Lip and Palate Research · Medicine · Nasal Surgery and Airway Studies · Sinusitis and nasal conditions
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| Unique citing works | 6 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2020 - 2025 (6) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 6 |