Аннотация:Objectives: This study explores variation, covariation, and ecogeographic pattern of the
nasal cavity, maxillary sinuses, and external midfacial skeleton across 15 populations of
east Asian origin inhabiting the Far East, Siberia, Alaska and Greenland.
Materials and Methods: We have collected linear measurements of the internal nasal
cavity, maxillary sinus and external midfacial skeleton as well as volumes and surface
areas of three-dimensional models of the cavity. A set of seven climatic variables,
mtDNA and Y-chromosome genetic matrices and a matrix of geographic distances
were also utilized.
Results: A strong association between form of the nasal cavity and climate was found,
whereby all north Asian groups display increased volumes, areas and lengths of the cav-
ity, and surface area to volume ratios (SA/V). Most of Siberian groups exhibit not only
large and long, but also wide and tall nasal cavity. The Eskimo-Aleutian speaking groups
possess cavities that are vertically short and narrow but of a high SA/V ratio. The
sinuses exhibit an exceptionally high level of within- and between-group variation
which supports the views on the sinus as an architectural byproduct. Both volume and
area of the nasal cavity can be reliably estimated based on a set of simple and repeat-
able linear measurements.
Discussion: While the nasal cavity and maxillary sinus are both larger in a larger facial
skeleton, there is a strong inverse relationship between them at a given facial size. Our
results do not support the notion that the shape of the internal nasal cavity is more
strongly associated with climate compared to the external midfacial morphology.