Epicanthic fold
The epicanthic fold is the skin fold of the upper eyelid covering the inner corner of the eye, more often seen in Mongoloid people.[1]
Latin	plica palpebronasalis

Mongoloid eye according to anthropologist Joseph Deniker

An epicanthic fold, epicanthal fold, or epicanthus is a skin fold of the upper eyelid, covering the inner corner (medial canthus) of the eye.

Other names for this trait include plica palpebronasalis,^[2] palpebronasal fold,^[3] and Mongolian eye fold.^[4]

Factors [link]

One of the primary facial features often closely associated with the epicanthic folds is the nose bridge; all else equal, a lower-based nose bridge is more likely to result in epicanthic folds, and vice versa.^[1] There are various factors influencing whether someone has epicanthic folds, including race, age, and certain medical conditions.

Race [link]

Mongoloids are more likely than Caucasoids to retain the epicanthic fold with age, although it varies demographically.^{[verification needed]} Anthropologist Ashley Montagu wrote in 1988 that for some Mongoloids the "nose is flatter at the root (the miscalled bridge) and the slight fold of skin over the median part of the eye, the Epicanthic fold, is preserved." children ^{[1][dated info]} Epicanthic folds tend to become less distinct with age. Epicanthic folds in caucasians are not static and usually disappear with age. European ethnic groups that tend to have epicanthus relatively frequently are Scandinavians, Poles, Germans, the Irish and British. They are most prominent in women and children.

Age [link]

Many fetuses lose their epicanthic folds after 3 to 6 months of gestation.^{[5][non-primary source needed]}

Medical conditions [link]

Medical conditions that cause the nasal bridge not to mature and project are associated with epicanthic folds. One of the characteristics of a substantial minority of people with Down Syndrome is prominent epicanthic folds.^[6] In Zellweger syndrome, epicanthic folds are prominent.^[7] Other examples are fetal alcohol syndrome, phenylketonuria, and Turner syndrome.^[8]

See also [link]

• Human physical appearance
• Epicanthoplasty

References [link]