High‐Altitude Adaptations in Cranial and Facial Morphology Among the Native Populations of Qinghai and Pamir and Tian Shan Mountains

Our results indicate the decrease in cranium size in mountainous populations of Central Asia, but not of China, which could be attributed both to the negative influence of high-altitude environments and socioeconomical influences. The increase in relative width of the nasal aperture and nasal cavity in high-altitude populations could be linked to the need for increased oxygen uptake in the low-pressure environment of high altitudes.