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Widow's peak

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This article is about the hairline formation. For other uses, see Widow's Peak.
This photograph is of a young woman with a widow's peak.
Woman with a widow's peak
This photograph is of a young man with a widow's peak.
Man with a widow's peak

A widow's peak is a V-shaped point in the hairline in the center of the forehead. Hair growth on the forehead is suppressed in a bilateral pair of periorbital fields. Normally, these fields join in the middle of the forehead so as to give a hairline that runs straight across. Widow's peak results when the point of intersection on the forehead of the upper perimeters of these fields is lower than usual.

Definition

A widow's peak is a distinct point in the hairline in the corner of the forehead;[1] it is a dominant inherited trait,[2] and typically does not skip generations (because it is a dominant trait).[3] There are varying degrees of the peak.[3] People who do not have a widow's peak have a hairline that runs straight across.[3]

Etymology

The term stems from the belief that hair growing to a point on the forehead – suggestive of the peak of a widow's hood – is an omen of early widowhood.[4] The use of peak in relation to hair dates from 1833.[5] The expression widow's peak dates from 1849.[5] The use of peak may refer to the beak or bill of a headdress, particularly the distinctive hood with a pointed piece in front – a biquoquet[6] – which widows wore as a hood of mourning dating from 1530.[5] Another explanation for the origin of the phrase suggests that it may be related to the mourning caps worn as early as the 16th century. A mourning cap or 'Mary Stuart Cap' is a cap which features a very distinctive triangular fold of cloth in the middle of the forehead, creating an artificial widow's peak. The use of peak referring to a point in the cloth covering the forehead dates to at least 1509 when it appears in Alexander Barclay’s The Shyp of Folys:

And ye Jentyl wymen whome this lewde vice doth blynde Lased on the backe: your peakes set a loft.[7]

Causes and associated syndromes

David W. Smith and M. Michael Cohen hypothesized the widow's peak hairline to be an anomaly[8] that results from a lower-than-usual point of intersection of the bilateral periorbital fields of hair-growth suppression on the forehead.[9] This can occur because the periorbital fields of hair-growth suppression are smaller than usual, or because they are more widely spaced.[9] Wide spacing also explains the association between ocular hypertelorism – that is, the eyes being abnormally far apart – and widow's peak;[9] this was suggested by findings in an unusual case of ocular hypertelorism in which surrounding scalp-hair growth was suppressed by an ectopic (displaced) eye.[8] Widow's peaks are a symptom of Donnai-Barrow syndrome, a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the LRP2 gene.[10] Other genetic syndromes occasionally associated with widow's peaks include Waardenburg syndrome and Aarskog syndrome.[11]

A study of women conducted by Nusbaum and Fuentefria in 2009 found that 81% had a widow's peak.[12]

Notable examples

U.S. Congressman Paul Ryan sports a notable widow's peak.

A number of fictional people have a widow's peak.[13] In film this trait is often associated with a villain or antagonist;[14] Count Dracula is an example.[15] Eddie Munster – from the television program "The Munsters" – also had this distinctive hairline.[13] Another villain depicted as having widow's peak hair is The Joker from "Batman" comic books and films, Vegeta from the Dragon Ball franchise is known for his widow's peak.[13] Hannibal Lecter is described as having one in the novels that feature his story.

Notable people with widow's peaks include Paul Ryan,[16][17] Ronald Reagan,[17] Andrew Jackson.[17]

References

  1. ^ "Dominant and Recessive Traits". Retrieved April 21, 2010. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ^ "Human Traits: autosomal". Introductory Biology I Lab Projects. Retrieved April 21, 2010. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ a b c Dougherty, Kristiann (September 12, 2007). "Genetics – widow's peak". Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  4. ^ Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved April 21, 2010.
  5. ^ a b c Expressions & Sayings:W. Retrieved April 21, 2010.
  6. ^ Randle Cotgrave (1776). "A French and English dictionary". Anthony Dolle (Golden Ball). Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  7. ^ Wilton, David. Wordorigins.org. Retrieved April 21, 2010.
  8. ^ a b Smith, D.W.; Cohen, M.M. (November 17, 1973). "Widow's Peak Scalp-Hair Anomaly and its Relation to Ocilar Hyperthelorism". The Lancet. 302 (7838): 1127.
  9. ^ a b c Hall, Judith G.; Allanson, Judith; Gripp, Karen; Slavotinek, Anne (2007). Handbook of physical measurements. Oxford medical publications. p. 336. ISBN 0-19-530149-8, 9780195301496. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
  10. ^ Donnai-Barrow syndrome, National Institute of Health, http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/donnai-barrow-syndrome
  11. ^ William Reardon (2008). "The Bedside Dysmorphologist". Oxford University
  12. ^ http://udel.edu/~mcdonald/mythwidowspeak.html
  13. ^ a b c Template:Cite article
  14. ^ "It really was love at first bite". The Guardian. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  15. ^ Villainous Vidows Peak at TV Tropes
  16. ^ Feldmann, Linda (November 15, 2012). "Paul Ryan shirtless? We're more interested in his widow's peak". The Christian Science Monitor.
  17. ^ a b c Roberts, Roxanne; Argetsinger, Amy (April 6, 2012). "Paul Ryan's widow's peak: A game-changer in GOP veepstakes?". Washington Post.
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