Abstract：
To document frontal sinus volume (FSV) in a sample of sub-Saharan Africans with a view to evaluating claims that such populations exhibit comparatively small sinuses. This study also addresses questions related to sexual dimorphism, incidence of sinus aplasia, and the possibility that FSV continues to increase through adulthood.
FSV was measured from CT scans of adult crania from the Dart Collection. Sex and age were known for each individual. Linear cranial dimensions were used to compute a geometric mean from which a scaled FSV was computed for each cranium.
FSV does not differ significantly between sexes, but females exhibit a higher incidence of aplasia. There is considerable variation in FSV in this sample, with the average ranking among the higher means reported for other population samples. The incidence of FS aplasia falls within the range of values recorded for other population samples. Although our study is cross-sectional rather than longitudinal, there is strong evidence that FSV continues to increase with age throughout adulthood.
The FSV mean of our sample contradicts the notion that sub-Saharan Africans possess small sinuses. In a global context, geography (climate and altitude) does not appear to be related to FSV. The absence of sexual dimorphism in our sample is unexpected, as significant dimorphism has been reported for most other population samples. Our results support other indications that the frontal sinus continues to expand throughout adulthood, especially in females, and that it is likely due to bone resorption.
FSV was measured from CT scans of adult crania from the Dart Collection. Sex and age were known for each individual. Linear cranial dimensions were used to compute a geometric mean from which a scaled FSV was computed for each cranium.
FSV does not differ significantly between sexes, but females exhibit a higher incidence of aplasia. There is considerable variation in FSV in this sample, with the average ranking among the higher means reported for other population samples. The incidence of FS aplasia falls within the range of values recorded for other population samples. Although our study is cross-sectional rather than longitudinal, there is strong evidence that FSV continues to increase with age throughout adulthood.
The FSV mean of our sample contradicts the notion that sub-Saharan Africans possess small sinuses. In a global context, geography (climate and altitude) does not appear to be related to FSV. The absence of sexual dimorphism in our sample is unexpected, as significant dimorphism has been reported for most other population samples. Our results support other indications that the frontal sinus continues to expand throughout adulthood, especially in females, and that it is likely due to bone resorption.
摘要：
目的：记录撒哈拉以南非洲人样本的额窦体积（FSV），以评估此类人群表现出较小鼻窦的说法。这项研究还解决了与性二态性有关的问题，鼻窦发育不全的发生率，以及FSV在成年后继续增加的可能性。
方法：FSV是从Dart收藏品的成年颅骨的CT扫描中测量的。每个人的性别和年龄都是已知的。线性颅骨尺寸用于计算几何平均值，从中计算每个颅骨的缩放FSV。
结果：FSV在性别之间没有显着差异，但是女性发育不全的发生率更高。该样本中的FSV有相当大的变化，在其他人口样本报告的较高平均值中，平均值排名。FS发育不全的发生率落在其他人群样本记录的值范围内。虽然我们的研究是横截面而不是纵向的，有强有力的证据表明,在整个成年期,FSV会随着年龄的增长而持续增加.
结论：我们样本的FSV平均值与撒哈拉以南非洲人拥有小鼻窦的观点相矛盾。在全球范围内,地理（气候和海拔）似乎与FSV无关。我们的样本中没有性二态是出乎意料的，因为在大多数其他人群样本中已经报道了显著的二态性。我们的结果支持其他迹象表明，额窦在整个成年期持续扩张，尤其是女性，这可能是由于骨吸收。
方法：FSV是从Dart收藏品的成年颅骨的CT扫描中测量的。每个人的性别和年龄都是已知的。线性颅骨尺寸用于计算几何平均值，从中计算每个颅骨的缩放FSV。
结果：FSV在性别之间没有显着差异，但是女性发育不全的发生率更高。该样本中的FSV有相当大的变化，在其他人口样本报告的较高平均值中，平均值排名。FS发育不全的发生率落在其他人群样本记录的值范围内。虽然我们的研究是横截面而不是纵向的，有强有力的证据表明,在整个成年期,FSV会随着年龄的增长而持续增加.
结论：我们样本的FSV平均值与撒哈拉以南非洲人拥有小鼻窦的观点相矛盾。在全球范围内,地理（气候和海拔）似乎与FSV无关。我们的样本中没有性二态是出乎意料的，因为在大多数其他人群样本中已经报道了显著的二态性。我们的结果支持其他迹象表明，额窦在整个成年期持续扩张，尤其是女性，这可能是由于骨吸收。
