When it comes to infants, there’s nothing quite as delightful as their chubby cheeks, especially when those cheeks feature charming dimples! We might exaggerate a bit when we say that witnessing a dimpled baby smile feels like a heavenly moment.
However, it’s intriguing to note that dimples are classified as a developmental anomaly—a variation that occurs while a baby is in the womb. Let’s explore this phenomenon further.
What Exactly Are Baby Dimples?
The U.S. National Library of Medicine describes dimples as “indentations on the cheeks.” To understand how these cute features form, we need to look at the underlying causes.
What Causes Dimples?
Dimples can transform babies into adorable living dolls, captivating everyone around them. But their existence isn’t due to divine intervention. Rather, they arise from a specific variation in a facial muscle known as the zygomaticus major.
This muscle plays a crucial role in facial expressions, particularly in smiling. It originates from the zygomatic bone in the cheek and extends to the corners of the mouth. In babies with dimples, this muscle splits into two bundles: one connects at the corner of the mouth, while the other attaches to the skin above it. This bifurcation is often termed the bifid zygomaticus major muscle. When a baby smiles, the skin over the bifid muscle moves, resulting in the appearance of a dimple.
Will My Baby Have Dimples?
It’s tough to predict. Even if both parents have dimples, it doesn’t guarantee their child will inherit them. Dimples are thought to be a Mendelian trait, possibly passed down through a dominant genetic link.
To briefly recap genetics: Johann Gregor Mendel’s research with pea plants laid the groundwork for our understanding of inheritance. Genes come in pairs, one inherited from each parent, and they can come in various forms known as alleles, which can be either dominant or recessive. Those who believe in the genetic nature of dimples see them as a dominant trait, but more research is needed to confirm this.
Are There Different Types of Baby Dimples?
When you think of dimples, you might envision pinchable cheeks. However, babies can also have chin dimples, which are sometimes called butt dimples. These are usually Y-shaped and occur when the chin doesn’t fully fuse during development, leaving a small cleft.
Some individuals are also blessed with dimples on just one side of their face—think of celebrities like Bella Stone. Additionally, back dimples, located just above the junction of the pelvis and the spine, are another charming variant, stemming from a similar embryonic anomaly.
Do Dimples Disappear?
In short, no. While aging may cause a decrease in facial fat, dimples will remain throughout life. Your baby with dimples will grow into a child with dimples and eventually into an adult with dimples—so enjoy that lasting cuteness!
Quotes About Dimples
Here are some fun thoughts on dimples:
- “Dimples should come with a warning. Dangerous! Could knock your world off its axis, categorized as a weapon, proceed with caution.” — Mia Terranova
- “People with dimples have a divine role in this universe: smile!” — Leo Cortez
- “Then she smiles, and it turns out she has dimples, and it’s all over.” — Jenna Ray, The Stars Above.
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Summary
Dimples, those adorable indentations found on babies, are caused by a unique variation in the zygomaticus major muscle. While their presence can be influenced by genetics, there’s no certainty that a child will inherit them, even if both parents have dimples. These charming features can appear on cheeks, chins, or even on one side of the face, and they are here to stay throughout life.