Ecogeographic variation in nasal valve angles stands as one of the best examples of human morphological adaptation to climate. A major physiological function of the nasal cavity is to condition the inhaled air to body core temperature and saturated with vapour to prevent damage to the alveolar epithelium in the lungs. The air conditioning capability of the nose is dependent on the nasal mucosal temperature and the airflow dynamics caused by the airway geometry. Morphological variation of the human nose has been attributed to the ecogeographic adaptation to climate where nasal cavities have been broadly categorised as tall and narrow (leptorrhines) or short and broad (platyrrhines) according to their morphology. We believe that there is a relationship between nasal valve angles and climate adaptation. Crown Copyright (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Seren, E; Seren, S
Morphological adaptation of the nasal valve area to climate
Medical Hypotheses