Regional shape change in adult facial bone curvature with age

Bibliographic Data

ID8319448
AuthorsShanna E Williams (0000-0002-3575-4684, University of Florida, corresponding author), Dennis E Slice (Florida State University)
Year2010
Volume143
Issue3
Pages437-447
Publication date2010-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.21332
PMID20949614
OpenAlexW2016534295
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited53

Life expectancies have increased dramatically over the last 100 years, affording greater opportunities to study the impact of age on adult craniofacial morphology. This article employs a novel application of established geometric morphometric methods to examine shape differences in adult regional facial bone curvature with age. Three‐dimensional semilandmarks representing the curvature of the orbits, zygomatic arches, nasal aperture, and maxillary alveolar process were collected from a cross‐sectional cranial sample of mixed sex and ancestry (male and female; African‐ and European‐American), partitioned into three age groups (young adult = 18–39; middle‐aged = 40–59 years; and elderly = 60+ years). Each facial region's semilandmarks were aligned into a common coordinate system via generalized Procrustes superimposition. Regional variation in shape was then explored via a battery of multivariate statistical techniques. Age‐related shape differences were detected in the orbits, zygomatic arches, and maxillary alveolar process. Interactions between age, sex, and ancestry were also identified. Vector plots revealed patterns of superoinferior compression, lateral expansion, and posterior recession depending on the population/subpopulation, location, and age groups examined. These findings indicate that adult craniofacial curvature shape is not static throughout human life. Instead, age‐related spatial modifications occur in various regions of the craniofacial skeleton. Moreover, these regional alterations vary not only through time, but across human populations and the sexes. Am J Phys Anthropol 143:437‐447, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc

Age groups · Biology · Craniofacial · Curvature · Facial skeleton · Geometry · Skull · Anatomy · Demography · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Mathematics · Medicine · Morphological variations and asymmetry · Orthodontics · Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

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