Relationships between the frontal sinus and climatic conditions: A skeletal approach to cold adaptation

Abstract

Abstract Previous studies in physical anthropology, using superficial facial features, show that the relationship between human facial morphology and climate is not clear. An alternate approach to the problem is the investigation of the deeper facio‐anatomical structures (i.e., cranial sinuses and/or foramina) in relation to climatic variables. The present investigation statistically analyses the relationship between climatic conditions (wind chill equivalent temperatures and absolute humidities) and the occurrence and size of frontal sinuses in 153 Eskimo crania. Conditional results from tests of significance of differences and correlation suggest a relationship between low wind chill equivalent temperatures and small frontal sinus surface areas. These results are interpreted in light of cranial sinus function and environmental physiology.