Human physical appearance

	Email		Print
	Bookmark		Link

Human physical appearance

Variations in the physical appearance of humans, known as human looks, are believed by anthropologists to be an important factor in the development of personality and social relations in particular physical attractiveness

Physical attractiveness

Physical attractiveness is the perception of the physical traits of an individual human person as pleasing or beauty. It can include various implications, such as sexual attractiveness and physique....
. There is a relatively low sexual dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism is the systematic difference in form between individuals of different sex in the same species. Examples include color , size, and the presence or absence of parts of the body used in courtship displays or fights, such as ornamental feathers, horns, antlers or tusks....
between human males and females in comparison with other mammals. However humans are acutely sensitive to variations in physical appearance, some theorize for reasons of evolution.

Discussion

Ask a question about 'Human physical appearance'

Start a new discussion about 'Human physical appearance'

Answer questions from other users

Full Discussion Forum

Encyclopedia

Physical attractiveness

Sexual dimorphism

Genetics

Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of heredity and Genetic variation in living organisms. The fact that living things inherit traits from their parents has been used since prehistoric times to improve crop plants and animals through selective breeding....
, others are the result of age

Senescence

Senescence encompasses all of the biological processes of a living organism's approaching an advanced age . The word senescence is derived from the Latin word senex, meaning "old man" or "old age" or "advanced in age"....
or disease

Disease

A disease or medical condition is an abnormal condition of an organism that impairs bodily functions, associated with specific symptoms and Medical signs....
, and many are the result of personal adornment.

Some people have traditionally linked some differences in personal appearance such as skeletal shape with race, such as prognathism

Prognathism

Prognathism is a term used to describe the positional relationship of the mandible and/or maxilla to the skeletal base where either of the jaws protrudes beyond a predetermined imaginary line in the sagittal plane of the skull....
or elongated stride (but this is a controversial and sensitive matter). Different cultures place different degrees of emphasis on physical appearance and its importance to social status and other phenomena.

List by category

Physiological differences in human physical appearance from individual to individual

Height
Human height

Human height varies according to both Nature versus nurture. The particular human genome that an individual inherits is a large part of the first variable and a combination of health and environmental factors present before adulthood are a major part of the second determinant ....
, body weight
Body weight

Although many people prefer the less-ambiguous term body mass, the term body weight is overwhelmingly used in daily English speech and in biological and medical science contexts to describe the mass of an organism's body....
, skin tone, body hair, sexual organs, moles
Mole (skin marking)

A melanocytic nevus is a type of lesion that contains nevus cells.Some sources equate the term "mole" with "melanocytic nevus". Other sources reserve the term "mole" for other purposes....
, freckle
Freckle

Freckles are clusters of concentrated melanin which are most often visible on people with a fair complexion. A freckle is also called an "ephelis."...
s, hair color
Hair color

Hair color is the pigmentation of hair follicles due to the two types of melanin, eumelanin and phaeomelanin. Generally, if more melanin is present in the hair, the color of the hair is darker; if less melanin is present, the hair color is lighter....
, hair texture, eye color
Eye color

Eye color is a polygenic trait and is determined by the amount and type of pigments in the eye's Iris . Humans and animals have many phenotypic variations in eye color....
, nose
Nose

Anatomically, a nose is a protuberance in vertebrates that houses the nostrils, or nares, which admit and expel air for Respiration in conjunction with the mouth....
shape, ear
Ear

The ear is the sense organ that detects sounds. The vertebrate ear shows a common biology from fish to humans, with variations in structure according to order and species....
s shape, body shape, body deformations, mutilations and other variations such as amputation
Amputation

Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by Physical trauma or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as cancer or gangrene....
s, scar
Scar

Scars are areas of fibrous biological tissue that replace normal skin after injury. A scar results from the biologic process of wound repair in the skin and other biological tissue of the body....
s, burn
Burn (injury)

A burn is a type of injury that may be caused by heat, Temperature, electricity, chemicals, light, radiation, or friction. Burns can be highly variable in terms of the tissue affected, the severity, and resultant complications....
s and wound
Wound

In medicine, a wound is a type of injury in which the skin is torn, cut or punctured , or where blunt force physical trauma causes a bruise . In pathology, it specifically refers to a sharp injury which damages the dermis of the skin....
s.

Long-term physiological changes in an individual

Aging
Senescence

Senescence encompasses all of the biological processes of a living organism's approaching an advanced age . The word senescence is derived from the Latin word senex, meaning "old man" or "old age" or "advanced in age"....
Hair loss

Short-term physiological changes in an individual

Blushing
Blushing

To blush is to display redness in one's face; the term is usually used when the redness is a result of an emotional response, which could reflect embarrassment, shame, or modesty....
, crying
Crying

File:A child sad that his hot dog fell on the ground.jpgThe term crying commonly refers to the act of shedding tears as a response to an emotion in humans....
, fainting, hiccup
Hiccup

A hiccup or hiccough , is the spasmodic contraction of the Diaphragm that repeats several times per minute. In humans, the abrupt rush of air into the lungs causes the epiglottis to close, creating the "hic" noise....
, stuttering
Stuttering

Stuttering, also known as stammering in the United Kingdom, is a speech disorder in which the flow of Speech communication is disrupted by involuntary repetitions and prolongations of sounds, syllables, words or phrases, and involuntary silent pauses or blocks in which the stutterer is unable to produce sounds....
, sexual arousal
Sexual arousal

Sexual arousal is the the arousal of sexual desires in preparation for sexual behavior....
, reddening of the skin due to increased blood flow due to exertion. Sweating
Sweating

Perspiration is the production of a fluid, consisting primarily of water as well as various dissolved solids , that is excreted by the sweat glands in the skin of mammals....
, shivering
Shivering

Shivering is a bodily function in response to early hypothermia in warm-blooded animals. When the core body temperature drops, the shivering reflex is triggered....
, nose bleeding, skin color changes
Sun tanning

Sun tanning describes a darkening of the Human skin color in a natural physiological response stimulated by exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight or from artificial sources such as a tanning bed....
due to sunshine
Sunlight

Sunlight, in the broad sense, is the total spectroscopy of the electromagnetic radiation given off by the Sun. On Earth, sunlight is Filter ed through the Earth's atmosphere, and the solar radiation is obvious as daylight when the Sun is above the horizon....
or frost
Frost

Frost is the solid deposition of water vapor from Saturation air. It is formed when solid surfaces are cooled to below the dew point of the adjacent air....
.

Clothing and personal effects

clothing
Clothing

A feature of all human societies, except perhaps the most primitive, is the wearing of clothing or clothes, especially in public. The primary purpose of clothing is functional, as a protection from the weather....
, including headgear
Headgear

Headgear, headwear or headdress is the name given to any element of clothing which is worn on one's head .Headgear serve a variety of purposes:...
and footwear
Footwear

Footwear consists of garments worn on the foot, for protective clothing against the environment, and adornment. Socks and other hosiery are worn between the feet and the footwear, except for Sandal s and flip flops ....
; some clothes alter or mold the shape of the body (e.g. corset
Corset

A corset is a garment worn to mold and shape the torso into a desired shape for aesthetic or medical purposes . Both men and women are known to wear corsets, though women are more common wearers....
, support pantyhose, bra
Brassiere

A brassiere is an article of clothing that covers, supports, and elevates the breasts.As well as an undergarment, the bra is considered a foundation garment because of its role in shaping the wearer's figure....
). As for footwear
Footwear

Footwear consists of garments worn on the foot, for protective clothing against the environment, and adornment. Socks and other hosiery are worn between the feet and the footwear, except for Sandal s and flip flops ....
, high heels make a person look taller.
style and colour of haircut (see also mohawk
Mohawk hairstyle

File:Mohawk 1951.jpgThe Mohawk is a hairstyle which consists of shaving both sides of the head, leaving a strip of noticeably longer hair. Mohawks became common in punk subculture and Rivethead subculture in the early 1980s and were then adopted by various other groups, becoming more diverse in style....
, dreadlocks
Dreadlocks

Dreadlocks, also called locks or dreads, are matted coils of hair which form by themselves eventually fusing together to form a single dread....
, braid
Braid

A braid is a complex structure or pattern formed by intertwining three or more strands of flexible material such as textile fibers, wire, or human hair....
s, ponytail
Ponytail

A ponytail is a hairstyle in which most or all of the hair on the head is pulled away from the face, gathered and secured at the back of the head with a hair tie, clip or similar device, and allowed to hang freely from that point....
, wig, hairpin
Hairpin

Hairpin can mean:* A long device used to hold a person's hair in place: see below* Hairpin bend* A stem-loop in biochemistry.----A hair pin or hairpin is a long device used to hold a person's hair in place....
, facial hair
Facial hair

Facial hair is a secondary sex characteristic in human males. Many men start developing facial hair in the later years of puberty, approximately between 18-20 years old and most men don't finish developing a fully adult beard until their early 20s or even later....
, beard
Beard

A beard is the hair that grows on a person's chin, cheeks, neck, and the area above the upper lip. Typically, only males going through puberty, or post-pubescent males are able to grow beards....
and moustache
Moustache

A moustache is facial hair grown on the upper lip. Often the term implies that the wearer grows only upper-lip hair while shaving the hair on his chin and cheeks....
)
cosmetics
Cosmetics

Cosmetics are substances used to enhance or protect the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care Cream , lotions, Powder , perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and gels, deodorants, baby products, bath oils, bubb...
, stage makeup, body painting
Body painting

Body painting, or sometimes bodypainting, is a form of body art, considered by some as the most ancient form of art. Unlike tattoo and other forms of body art, body painting is temporary, painted onto the human skin, and lasts for only several hours, or at most a couple of weeks....
s, permanent makeup
Permanent makeup

Permanent makeup is a Beauty technique which employs tattoos as a means of producing designs that resemble makeup, such as eyelining and other permanent enhancing colors to the skin of the face, lips, and eyelids....
body modification
Body modification

Body modification is the permanent or semi-permanent deliberate altering of the human anatomy for non-medical reasons, such as: sexual enhancement; a rite of passage; aesthetic reasons; denoting affiliation, trust and loyalty; religious reasons; mystical affiliations; shock value; and self-expression.....
s, such as body piercing
Body piercing

Body piercing is the practice of puncturing or cutting a part of the human body, creating an opening in which body piercing jewelry may be worn....
s and tattoo
Tattoo

A tattoo is a permanent marking made by inserting ink into the layers of skin to change the pigment for decorative or other reasons. Tattoos on humans are a type of decorative body modification, while tattoos on animals are most commonly used for identification or branding....
s
plastic surgery
Plastic surgery

Plastic surgery is a medical :Category:Surgical specialties concerned with the correction or restoration of form and function. While famous for aesthetic surgery, plastic surgery also includes a variety of fields such as craniofacial surgery, hand surgery, burn surgery, microsurgery, and reconstructive surgery....
decorative objects (jewelry) such as a necklace
Necklace

A necklace is an article of jewellery which is worn around the neck. Necklaces are frequently formed from a metal chain, often attached to a locket or pendant....
s, bracelet
Bracelet

A bracelet is an article of jewelry which is worn around the wrist. Bracelets can be manufacturing from leather, cloth, hemp, plastic or metal, and sometimes contain Rock s, wood, and/or Animal shells....
s, rings, earring
Earring

Earrings are jewellery attached to the ear through a body piercing in the earlobe or some other external part of the ear . Earrings are worn by both sexes....
s
medical or body shape altering devices (e.g. tooth braces, bandage
Bandage

A bandage is a piece of material used either to support a medical device such as a dressing or splint , or on its own to provide support to the body....
s, casts, hearing aids, cervical collar
Cervical collar

A cervical collar is an orthopedic piece of medical equipment used to support a patient's spinal cord and head. A cervical collar can help realign one's spinal cord and relieve pain, although it should only be worn for as long as the doctor states, since collars are usually not worn for long periods of time....
, crutches, contact lenses
Contact lens

A contact lens is a corrective lens, cosmetics, or therapeutic lens usually placed on the cornea of the eye. Modern soft contact lenses were invented by the Czech Republic chemists Otto Wichterle and Drahoslav L?m, who also invented the first gel used for their production....
of different colours, glasses
Glasses

Glasses or specs, more formally known as eyeglasses or spectacles, are frames bearing lens worn in front of the eyes, normally for Corrective lens, eye protection, or for UV Coating....
, gold
Gold

Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and atomic number 79. It is a highly sought-after precious metal, having been used as money, as a store of value, in jewelry, in sculpture, and for ornamentation since the beginning of recorded history....
teeth)

Other functional objects, temporarily attached to the body

jewelry
sunglasses
Sunglasses

Sunglasses or sun glasses are a visual aid, variously termed spectacles or glasses, which feature lenses that are coloured or darkened to prevent strong light from reaching the eyes....
goggles
Goggles

Goggles or safety glasses are forms of Eye protection that usually enclose or protect the eye area in order to prevent particulates, water or chemicals from striking the eyes....
watch
Watch

A watch is a timepiece that is made to be worn on a person. The term now usually refers to a wristwatch, which is worn on the wrist with a strap or bracelet....
headphones
Headphones

Headphones are a pair of small loudspeakers, or less commonly a single speaker, with a way of holding them close to a user's ears and a means of connecting them to a signal source such as an audio amplifier, radio or CD player....
/handsfree
Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a wireless protocol for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks . It was originally conceived as a wireless alternative to RS232 data cables....
phone headset
electronics
Electronics

Electronics refers to the flow of charge through nonmetal electrical conductor , whereas electrical refers to the flow of charge through metal electrical conductor....
(e.g. PDA
Personal digital assistant

A personal digital assistant is a handheld computer, also known as a palmtop computer. Newer PDAs also have both color screens and audio capabilities, enabling them to be used as mobile phones, , web browsers, or portable media players....
, cell phone
Mobile phone

A mobile phone is a long-range, electronic device used for mobile voice or data communication over a network of specialized base stations known as cell sites....
, DAP
Digital audio player

A digital audio player, more commonly referred to as an MP3 player, is a consumer electronics device that stores, organizes and plays audio file formats....
)
weapon
Weapon

A weapon is a tool used to apply or threaten to apply force for the purpose of hunting, attack or defense in combat, subduing enemy personnel, or to destroy enemy weapons, equipment and defensive structures....
s
hair
Hair

Hair is a protein filament that epidermal growth from hair follicle deep within the dermis. The fine, soft hair found on many nonhuman mammals is typically called fur; wool is the characteristically curly hair found on sheep and goats....
ornament
Ornament

Ornament may refer to:*Decoration**Christmas ornament**Ornament or "ornamentation"**Ornamental stone*Ornament *Ornamental plant*Human ornamentation, see:...
s
hat
Hat

A hat is a headcovering. It may be worn for protection against the elements, for religious reasons, for safety, or as a fashion accessory. In the past, hats were an indicator of social status....
s and cap
CAP

A cap is a form of headgear.Cap may also refer to:* Bottle cap, a closure to seal bottles* Screw cap, a closure to seal bottles or jars...
s
cape
Cape

A cape is a type of clothing, and can be used to describe any sleeveless outer garment, such as a poncho, but usually it is a long garment that covers only the back half of the wearer, fastening about the neck....
s

Human physical appearance

List by category

Physiological differences in human physical appearance from individual to individual

Long-term physiological changes in an individual

Short-term physiological changes in an individual

Clothing and personal effects

Other functional objects, temporarily attached to the body

See also