Discover Magazine
A recent discovery in research has found that men may have bigger snouts compared to women because they generally have more muscle, which requires a larger oxygen intake.
The scientists also point out that this discovery could help explain why Neanderthals, the closest extinct relatives to humans, bore such large noses.
Ancient skeletons portray larger body masses than current humans. Theories suggest that these species could have relied on larger noses to supply greater levels of oxygen and therefore, support their body types. However, a link between body and nose size cannot be proven due to the fragmented and broken states of ancient fossil remains.
According to LiveScience, “Past research of a wide range of modern humans globally also revealed that men generally have larger noses than women, and typically have larger nasal cavities and airways behind the nose as well. In addition, men consume more oxygen during nasal breathing than women.”
To solve the mystery of nose size, researchers analyzed the point in human development when nose size begins to change. The team concentrated on a sample of 18 females and 20 males, all of European descent. They gathered information from the Iowa Facial Growth Study and observed various X-rays and physical exams, spanning from ages 3 to over 20.
The team found that the noses of both males and females were similar in size, preadolescence. However, with puberty, male noses begin to grow as the body builds more muscle, allowing males to consume more oxygen. Males typically grow leaner muscles during this period, as opposed to females. The male noses observed in the study were up to ten percent larger, on average, than female noses.
“As body size increases in males and females during growth, males exhibit a disproportionate increase in nasal size,” said Nathan Holton, biological anthropologist and lead author. “This follows the same pattern as energetic variables such as oxygen consumption.”
The authors of this study denote that their research observed less than 40 people, all of European descent, which does not make the theory universally true. However, past research does suggest that the notion of men having larger noses is a global phenomenon, so Holton’s recent findings appear to be consistent with what scientists already know.
References:
Lewis, Richard. “The Big Male Nose.” Iowa Now. University of Iowa, 18 Nov. 2013. Web. 02 Dec. 2014. <http://now.uiowa.edu/2013/11/big-male-nose>.
Choi, Charles Q. “Why Guys Have Bigger Noses Than Gals.” LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 18 Nov. 2013. Web. 02 Dec. 2014. <http://www.livescience.com/41276-why-men-have-larger-noses.html>.