The word "mesoprosopic" is spelled with a combination of Greek roots meaning "middle face." The first syllable "meso" indicates the middle, while the second syllable "prosopic" refers to the face. The pronunciation of "mesoprosopic" in IPA phonetic transcription is /ˌmɛsəproʊˈsɒpɪk/. The stress falls on the second syllable, making it the most prominent. The phonetic transcription helps to clarify the pronunciation of "mesoprosopic," which means having a face that is intermediate in shape between long and broad.
Mesoprosopic is an adjective used to describe a specific type of facial configuration or craniofacial structure. It refers to individuals who possess a face that can be classified as intermediate or somewhere in between two extreme types – leptoprosopic and euryprosopic.
The term "mesoprosopic" is often utilized within the field of anthropology and physical anthropology to categorize and assess facial features in order to better understand human variations and ethnic classifications. Individuals with a mesoprosopic facial configuration typically have proportions that fall within a mid-range spectrum. Their faces are neither excessively long and narrow (leptoprosopic) nor excessively short and broad (euryprosopic).
When studying human populations, the mesoprosopic classification provides a useful tool for analyzing facial diversity and determining differences between various racial or ethnic groups. In some cases, it can also be used to assess beauty standards within a society or culture, as facial proportions play a role in perceptions of attractiveness.
It is important to note that the term "mesoprosopic" is mainly used within scientific contexts and is not as commonly known in everyday language. However, within its specific domain, it serves as a valuable means of characterizing and categorizing facial morphologies in order to facilitate research and understanding of human variation.
Having a face of moderate width, i.e. with a facial index of about 90.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "mesoprosopic" is derived from two Greek roots: "meso-", meaning "middle" or "intermediate", and "prosopon", meaning "face".
In anthropology and forensic science, "mesoprosopic" is used to describe a facial type or characteristic that falls in between two extremes. It refers to individuals who have facial features that are neither extremely long (dolichocephalic) nor extremely wide (brachycephalic), but rather fall within the intermediate range.