For other uses see Head (disambiguation). The human head. A cheetah's head.

In anatomy the head of an animal is the rostral part (from anatomical position) that usually comprises the brain eyes ears nose and mouth (all of which aid in various sensory functions such as sight hearing smell and taste). Some very simple animals may not have a head but many bilaterally symmetric forms do. Contents 1 Cultural importance 2 Clothing 3 Anthropometry 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External links Cultural importance

For humans the head and particularly the face are the main distinguishing feature between different people due to their easily discernible features such as hair and eye color nose eye and mouth shapes wrinkles etc. Human faces are easily differentiable to us due to our brains' predispositions toward discriminating human facial forms. When observing a relatively unfamiliar species all faces seem nearly identical and human infants are biologically programmed to recognize subtle differences in anthropic facial features.

People who are more intelligent than normal are sometimes depicted in cartoons as having bigger heads as a way of indicating that they have a larger brain; in science fiction an extraterrestrial having a big head is often symbolic of high intelligence. Outside of this symbolic depiction however advances in neurobiology have shown that the functional diversity of the brain means that a difference in overall brain size is not a reliable indicator of how much if any difference in overall intelligence exists between two humans.1

The head is a source for many metaphors and metonymies in human language including referring to things typically near the human head ( "the head of the bed") things physically similar to the way a head is arranged spatially to a body ("the head of the table") metaphorically ("the head of the class/FBI") and things that represent some characteristic we associate with the head such as intelligence ("there are a lot of good heads in this company"). These examples are all from English but only some are possible expressions in other languages (depending on the language). (See Lakoff and Johnson 1980 1999)

Ancient Greeks had a method for evaluating sexual attractiveness based on the Golden Ratio part of which included measurements of the head. Clothing Original caption: on sale in the bazar in Isfahan Main article: Headgear

In many cultures covering the head is seen as a sign of respect. Often some or all of the head must be covered and veiled when entering holy places or places of prayer. For many centuries women in Europe the Middle East and South Asia have covered their hair as a sign of modesty. This trend has changed drastically in Europe in the 20th century although is still observed in other parts of the world. In addition a number of religious paths require men to wear specific head clothingsuch as the Islamic Taqiyah Jewish yarmulke or the Sikh turban; or Muslim women who cover their hair ears and neck with a scarf.

People may cover the head for other reasons. A hat is a piece of clothing covering just the top of the head. This may be part of a uniform such as a Police uniform a protective device such as a hard hat a covering for warmth or a fashion accessory.

Different headpieces can also signify status origin religious/spiritual beliefs social grouping occupation and fashion choices. Anthropometry Static adult human physical characteristics of the head. See also Head and neck anatomy Notes Brain Size and Intelligence References Campbell Bernard Grant. Human Evolution: An Introduction to Man's Adaptations (4th edition) ISBN 0-202-02042-8 External links Look up head in Wiktionary the free dictionary. v d eHuman regional anatomy (TA A01.1) Head Forehead  Ear  Jaw  Face (Cheek Eye Nose Mouth Chin)  Occiput  Scalp  Temple Neck Throat  Adam's apple Trunk Chest (Breast)  Abdomen (Navel)  Back  Pelvis (Sex organs) Limbs Upper limb

Shoulder  Axilla  Arm Elbow  Forearm Wrist  Hand  Finger (Thumb  Index  Middle  Ring  Little) Lower limb/ (see also leg) Hip  Buttocks  Thigh Knee  Calf  Crus Ankle  Heel  Foot  Toe (Hallux  Long   Third   Fourth   Fifth)  Sole general anatomy: systems and organs regional anatomy planes and lines superficial axial anatomy superficial anatomy of limbs v d eList of muscles of head and neck: the head (TA A04.1 GA 4.378) Extraocular (CN III IV VI) oblique (inferior superior)  rectus (superior inferior medial lateral)  levator palpebrae superioris (superior tarsal) Mastication (CN V3) masseter  temporalis (sphenomandibularis)  pterygoid (lateral medial) fascia: Masseteric fascia  Temporal fascia  Cementum Facial (CN VII) Ear auricular (anterior superior posterior)  temporoparietalis Scalp/eyelid occipitofrontalis (occipitalis frontalis)  orbicularis oculi (depressor supercilii)  corrugator supercilii fascia: Galea aponeurotica Nose procerus  nasalis (dilatator naris)  depressor septi nasi   levator labii superioris alaeque nasi Mouth levator anguli oris  levator labii superioris  zygomaticus (major minor) orbicularis oris  risorius  buccinator depressor anguli oris  depressor labii inferioris  mentalis Palate/fauces (CN IX X XI) (except TVPV3) veli palatini (tensor levator)  musculus uvulae  palatopharyngeus (to pharynx)  palatoglossus (to tongue) Tongue (CN XII) extrinsic (genioglossus hyoglossus/chondroglossus styloglossus and palatoglossus)  intrinsic (superior longitudinal inferior longitudinal transverse vertical) M: MUS DF+DRCT anat (h/n u t/d a/p l)/phys/devp/hist noco(m s c)/cong(d)/tumr sysi/epon injr proc drug (M1A/3)