Using the 3D Facial Norms Database to investigate craniofacial sexual dimorphism in healthy children, adolescents, and adults

Matthew J Kesterke; Zachary D Raffensperger; Carrie L Heike; Michael L Cunningham; Jacqueline T Hecht; Chung How Kau; Nichole L Nidey; Lina M Moreno; George L Wehby; Mary L Marazita; Seth M Weinberg

doi:10.1186/s13293-016-0076-8

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Using the 3D Facial Norms Database to investigate craniofacial sexual dimorphism in healthy children, adolescents, and adults

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Using the 3D Facial Norms Database to investigate craniofacial sexual dimorphism in healthy children, adolescents, and adults

Matthew J Kesterke, Zachary D Raffensperger, Carrie L Heike, Michael L Cunningham, Jacqueline T Hecht, Chung How Kau, Nichole L Nidey, Lina M Moreno, George L Wehby, Mary L Marazita, …

Biology of sex differences, Vol.7(1), pp.23-23

2016

DOI: 10.1186/s13293-016-0076-8

PMCID: PMC4841054

PMID: 27110347

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Abstract

Although craniofacial sex differences have been extensively studied in humans, relatively little is known about when various dimorphic features manifest during postnatal life. Using cross-sectional data derived from the 3D Facial Norms data repository, we tested for sexual dimorphism of craniofacial soft-tissue morphology at different ages. One thousand five hundred fifty-five individuals, pre-screened for craniofacial conditions, between 3 and 25 years of age were placed in to one of six age-defined categories: early childhood, late childhood, puberty, adolescence, young adult, and adult. At each age group, sex differences were tested by ANCOVA for 29 traditional soft-tissue anthropometric measurements collected from 3D facial scans. Additionally, sex differences in shape were tested using a geometric morphometric analysis of 24 3D facial landmarks. Significant (p < 0.05) sex differences were observed in every age group for measurements covering multiple aspects of the craniofacial complex. The magnitude of the dimorphism generally increased with age, with large spikes in the nasal, cranial, and facial measurements observed after puberty. Significant facial shape differences (p < 0.05) were also seen at each age, with some dimorphic features already present in young children (eye fissure inclination) and others emerging only after puberty (mandibular position). Several craniofacial soft-tissue sex differences were already present in the youngest age group studied, indicating that these differences emerged prior to 3 years of age. The results paint a complex and heterogeneous picture, with different groups of traits exhibiting distinct patterns of dimorphism during ontogeny. The definitive adult male and female facial shape was present following puberty, but arose from numerous distinct changes taking place at earlier stages.

Geometric morphometrics

Facial shape

Sexual dimorphism

Anthropometry

Stereophotogrammetry

Details

Title: Subtitle: Using the 3D Facial Norms Database to investigate craniofacial sexual dimorphism in healthy children, adolescents, and adults
Creators: Matthew J Kesterke - Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
Zachary D Raffensperger - Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, Department of Oral Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 100 Technology Drive, Suite 500, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 USA
Carrie L Heike - Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
Michael L Cunningham - Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA ; Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA ; Department of Oral Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA ; Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
Jacqueline T Hecht - Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX USA
Chung How Kau - Department of Orthodontics, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL USA
Nichole L Nidey - Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA USA
Lina M Moreno - Department of Orthodontics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA USA ; Dows Institute for Dental Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA USA
George L Wehby - Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA USA
Mary L Marazita - Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, Department of Oral Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 100 Technology Drive, Suite 500, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 USA ; Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA ; Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA ; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
Seth M Weinberg - Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA ; Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, Department of Oral Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 100 Technology Drive, Suite 500, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Biology of sex differences, Vol.7(1), pp.23-23
DOI: 10.1186/s13293-016-0076-8
PMID: 27110347
PMCID: PMC4841054
NLM abbreviation: Biol Sex Differ
ISSN: 2042-6410
eISSN: 2042-6410
Publisher: England
Grant note: R01 DD000295 / NCBDD CDC HHS U01 DE020078 / NIDCR NIH HHS U01 DE020057 / NIDCR NIH HHS R01 DE016148 / NIDCR NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 2016
Academic Unit: Preventive and Community Dentistry; Orthodontics; Health Management and Policy; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Epidemiology; Economics; Addiction Medicine; Craniofacial Anomalies Research Center; Public Policy Center (Archive); Dental Research
Record Identifier: 9984025422302771

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