Ribcage Morphology in Native South American Populations From Different Altitudes: Insights From a Global Comparative Framework

Abstract

The pronounced ribcage depth in native South Americans could represent a population-specific trait maintained through long-term interactions, potentially advantageous in high-altitude settings but neutral in the lowlands. In addition, we propose that South American highlanders have a larger ribcage relative to their smaller body size compared to lowlanders. Finally, the larger and stockier male ribcage morphology in South Americans supports the notion of greater respiratory capacity and metabolic demands in males.