Developmental shape changes in facial morphology: Geometric morphometric analyses based on a prospective, population-based, Chinese cohort in Hong Kong.

<h4>Background</h4>Thorough understanding of developmental changes of human facial shape is lacking. The present study aimed to evaluate developmental shape changes of facial morphology based on a prospective, population-representative, Chinese cohort in Hong Kong.<h4>Methods</h...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yi Feng Wen, Hai Ming Wong, Colman P McGrath
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2019-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0218542
_version_ 1819175647780536320
author Yi Feng Wen
Hai Ming Wong
Colman P McGrath
author_facet Yi Feng Wen
Hai Ming Wong
Colman P McGrath
author_sort Yi Feng Wen
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>Thorough understanding of developmental changes of human facial shape is lacking. The present study aimed to evaluate developmental shape changes of facial morphology based on a prospective, population-representative, Chinese cohort in Hong Kong.<h4>Methods</h4>A population-representative sample of Chinese in Hong Kong was followed. Serial facial images of over 260 participants were obtained at age 12, 15, and 18 years. Facial landmarks were digitized and the corresponding coordinates were submitted for Generalized Procrustes Analysis. The resultant Procrustes shape coordinates, which captured shape information encoded by the facial landmarks, were then used for statistical shape analyses.<h4>Results</h4>Small but significant developmental changes in mean facial shape were observed (p < 0.0001 for all pairwise comparisons). Significant age-related changes in the magnitude of variance of facial shape were also observed (p < 0.05). Phenotypic growth trajectories representing developmental shape changes were similar in size (p > 0.05) between sexes but differed in direction (p < 0.05) in shape space and trajectory shape (p < 0.05). The magnitude of shape differences between sexes remained constant from 12 to 18 years. Results of frontal facial shape analyses after removing the effect of allometry were similar to results obtained before removal of allometry. For lateral facial configurations, allometric trajectories among the age-by-sex groups were similar in slope (p > 0.05) but varied in directions in the multidimensional shape space.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Our findings suggested significant age-related changes in facial shape and provided a dynamic view of developmental changes in sexual dimorphism of facial shape. Allometry contributed minimally to developmental changes in frontal facial shape. In addition, the allometric trajectories for lateral facial configurations were similar in rate of shape change but differed in their directions in shape space.
first_indexed 2024-12-22T20:58:12Z
format Article
id doaj.art-0fd05d3107464f1b94ba56c852df0150
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1932-6203
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-22T20:58:12Z
publishDate 2019-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj.art-0fd05d3107464f1b94ba56c852df01502022-12-21T18:12:53ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032019-01-01146e021854210.1371/journal.pone.0218542Developmental shape changes in facial morphology: Geometric morphometric analyses based on a prospective, population-based, Chinese cohort in Hong Kong.Yi Feng WenHai Ming WongColman P McGrath<h4>Background</h4>Thorough understanding of developmental changes of human facial shape is lacking. The present study aimed to evaluate developmental shape changes of facial morphology based on a prospective, population-representative, Chinese cohort in Hong Kong.<h4>Methods</h4>A population-representative sample of Chinese in Hong Kong was followed. Serial facial images of over 260 participants were obtained at age 12, 15, and 18 years. Facial landmarks were digitized and the corresponding coordinates were submitted for Generalized Procrustes Analysis. The resultant Procrustes shape coordinates, which captured shape information encoded by the facial landmarks, were then used for statistical shape analyses.<h4>Results</h4>Small but significant developmental changes in mean facial shape were observed (p < 0.0001 for all pairwise comparisons). Significant age-related changes in the magnitude of variance of facial shape were also observed (p < 0.05). Phenotypic growth trajectories representing developmental shape changes were similar in size (p > 0.05) between sexes but differed in direction (p < 0.05) in shape space and trajectory shape (p < 0.05). The magnitude of shape differences between sexes remained constant from 12 to 18 years. Results of frontal facial shape analyses after removing the effect of allometry were similar to results obtained before removal of allometry. For lateral facial configurations, allometric trajectories among the age-by-sex groups were similar in slope (p > 0.05) but varied in directions in the multidimensional shape space.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Our findings suggested significant age-related changes in facial shape and provided a dynamic view of developmental changes in sexual dimorphism of facial shape. Allometry contributed minimally to developmental changes in frontal facial shape. In addition, the allometric trajectories for lateral facial configurations were similar in rate of shape change but differed in their directions in shape space.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0218542
spellingShingle Yi Feng Wen
Hai Ming Wong
Colman P McGrath
Developmental shape changes in facial morphology: Geometric morphometric analyses based on a prospective, population-based, Chinese cohort in Hong Kong.
PLoS ONE
title Developmental shape changes in facial morphology: Geometric morphometric analyses based on a prospective, population-based, Chinese cohort in Hong Kong.
title_full Developmental shape changes in facial morphology: Geometric morphometric analyses based on a prospective, population-based, Chinese cohort in Hong Kong.
title_fullStr Developmental shape changes in facial morphology: Geometric morphometric analyses based on a prospective, population-based, Chinese cohort in Hong Kong.
title_full_unstemmed Developmental shape changes in facial morphology: Geometric morphometric analyses based on a prospective, population-based, Chinese cohort in Hong Kong.
title_short Developmental shape changes in facial morphology: Geometric morphometric analyses based on a prospective, population-based, Chinese cohort in Hong Kong.
title_sort developmental shape changes in facial morphology geometric morphometric analyses based on a prospective population based chinese cohort in hong kong
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0218542
work_keys_str_mv AT yifengwen developmentalshapechangesinfacialmorphologygeometricmorphometricanalysesbasedonaprospectivepopulationbasedchinesecohortinhongkong
AT haimingwong developmentalshapechangesinfacialmorphologygeometricmorphometricanalysesbasedonaprospectivepopulationbasedchinesecohortinhongkong
AT colmanpmcgrath developmentalshapechangesinfacialmorphologygeometricmorphometricanalysesbasedonaprospectivepopulationbasedchinesecohortinhongkong