Dimple

Dimple
For other uses, see Dimple (disambiguation).
A young woman smiles, with visible dimples on her cheeks.

A dimple is a small natural indentation in the flesh on a part of the human body, most notably in the cheek or on the chin.[1]

Contents

More about dimples

Dimples may appear and disappear over an extended period.[2] Dimples may play a role in sexual selection.[3] Some cultures, for example Asian and Indo-ethnic sub-groups, prefer dimples as a sign of attractiveness and veracity.[4] Dimples may be genetically inherited and have been called a simple dominant trait, but there is no scientific evidence for this.

Physiology

Dimples may be caused by variations in the structure of the facial muscle known as zygomaticus major. Specifically, the presence of a double or bifid zygomaticus major muscle may explain the formation of cheek dimples.[4] This bifid variation of the muscle originates as a single structure from the zygomatic bone. As it travels anteriorly, it then divides with a superior bundle that inserts in the typical position above the corner of the mouth. An inferior bundle inserts below the corner of the mouth.

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.thefreedictionary.com/dimple
  2. ^ Am J Med Genet. 1990 Jul;36(3):376. Cheek dimples.
  3. ^ Pentzos Daponte, A.; Vienna, A.; Brant, L.; Hauser, G. (2004). "Cheek dimples in Greek children and adolescents". International Journal of Anthropology 19: 289. doi:10.1007/BF02449856. 
  4. ^ a b Pessa, JE; Zadoo, VP; Garza, PA; Adrian Jr, EK; Dewitt, AI; Garza, JR (1998). "Double or bifid zygomaticus major muscle: anatomy, incidence, and clinical correlation". Clinical anatomy 11 (5): 310–3. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1098-2353(1998)11:5<310::AID-CA3>3.0.CO;2-T. PMID 9725574. 

External links


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Dimple — Dimple, engl. Grübchen, kann sich beziehen auf: die Vertiefungen in einen Golfball eine Scotch Marke eine Falte unter dem Krawattenknoten Orte in den Vereinigten Staaten: Dimple (Arkansas) Dimple (Kentucky) Dimple (Texas) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Dimple — Dim ple, n. [Prob. a nasalized dim. of dip. See {Dip}, and cf. {Dimble}.] 1. A slight natural depression or indentation on the surface of some part of the body, esp. on the cheek or chin. Milton. [1913 Webster] The dimple of her chin. Prior.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • dimple — ► NOUN 1) a small depression formed in the fleshy part of the cheeks when one smiles. 2) any small depression in a surface. ► VERB ▪ produce a dimple or dimples in the surface of. DERIVATIVES dimply adjective. ORIGIN Germanic …   English terms dictionary

  • Dimple — Dim ple, v. t. To mark with dimples or dimplelike depressions. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Dimple — Dim ple, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Dimpled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Dimpling}.] To form dimples; to sink into depressions or little inequalities. [1913 Webster] And smiling eddies dimpled on the main. Dryden. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • dimple — (n.) c.1400, perhaps existing in O.E. as a word meaning pothole, perhaps ultimately from P.Gmc. *dumpilaz, which has yielded words in other languages meaning small pit, little pool (Cf. Ger. Tümpel pool, M.L.G. dümpelen, Du. dompelen to plunge ) …   Etymology dictionary

  • dimple — [n] indentation cleft, concavity, dent, depression, divot, hollow, pit; concept 490 …   New thesaurus

  • dimple — [dim′pəl] n. [ME dimpel, akin to MHG tumpfel, Ger tümpel, deep hole in water < nasalized var. of Gmc * dup , to be deep < IE base * dheub , * dheup , hollow, deep > DEEP, DIP] 1. a small, natural hollow on the surface of the body, as on… …   English World dictionary

  • dimple — 1. noun a) A small depression or indentation in a surface. The accident created a dimple in the hood of the car. b) Specifically, a small natural depression on the skin, especially on the face near the corners of the mouth …   Wiktionary

  • dimple — noun a small depression in the flesh, either permanent or forming in the cheeks when one smiles. ↘a slight depression in the surface of an object. verb produce a dimple or dimples in the surface of. ↘[usu. as adjective dimpled] form or show a… …   English new terms dictionary

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