Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Widow's peak
Introduction
A widow’s peak (widow’s brow) is a descending V-shaped point in the middle of the hairline (above the forehead). The trait is inherited genetically and is dominant.[1] The term comes from English folklore, where it was believed that this hair formation was a sign of a woman who would outlive her husband.[1]
The peak refers to the beak or bill of a headdress, particularly a widow’s hood, making people think a woman was being given a mourning hood for her husband’s soon-to-be passing.[2]
Vampires such as Dracula are often depicted in popular culture with a widow’s peak. Hannibal Lecter is described as possessing a widow’s peak.
Men with male-pattern baldness develop what appears to be a large widow’s peak.
See also:
See also:
- List of Mendelian traits in humans
- Cupid’s bow (a distinctive feature of the upper lip in some humans).
References
References
- ↑ Campbell, Neil (2005). Biology. San Francisco: Benjamin Cummings. pp. pp. 265. Unknown parameter
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