View source for Medicine:Unibrow

[[File:UniBrow Close Up.jpg|thumb|A close up of the human unibrow.  Not all unibrows are similar, the unibrow pictured above also has hair between the eyes.]]
A '''unibrow''' (or '''jacco brow''' or '''monobrow'''; called '''synophrys''' in medicine) is a single eyebrow created when the two eyebrows meet in the middle above the bridge of the [[Medicine:Nose|nose]].<ref>{{cite web|title = confluent eyebrow|url = http://www.thefreedictionary.com/confluent+eyebrow|website = TheFreeDictionary.com|access-date = 2016-02-02}}</ref> The hair above the bridge of the nose is usually of the same color and thickness as the eyebrows, giving the appearance that they converge to form one uninterrupted line of hair.

== History ==
The first known use of the word ''unibrow'' was in 1988.<ref>{{cite web|title = Definition of UNIBROW|url = http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unibrow|website = www.merriam-webster.com|access-date = 2016-02-02}}</ref>

==Culture and beauty==
=== Oman ===
A unibrow is considered as a sign of beauty in Arab culture. Its popularity causes women to draw a black line joining the brows as a part of their routine makeup to fake a unibrow. A study found the prevalence of synophrys to be at 11.87% in the Omani population.<ref>Synophrys: Epidemiological Study.P.Kumar. Int J Trichology.2017;9(3):105-107.doi:  10.4103/ijt.ijt_14_17 {{PMC|5596643}}.</ref>

=== Tajikistan ===

In Tajikistan,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/tajikistan/101126/unibrow-central-asia-fashion|title=Where the unibrow reigns|last=Elder|first=Miriam|date=November 27, 2010|newspaper=Global Post|accessdate=November 13, 2011}}</ref> a unibrow is viewed as an attractive quality in both men and women.{{fact|date=September 2018}} For women, it is associated with virginity and purity and, in men, virility.{{fact|date=September 2018}} If there is no unibrow present, or if it is weak, it is commonplace for women to use a kohl liner or a modern kajal pen to simulate a unibrow.{{fact|date=September 2018}}

=== Elsewhere ===
The unibrow has largely been seen as undesirable in the United States and United Kingdom, with the hairs often plucked, shaved, or waxed away.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/20151/why-does-everything-taste-bad-after-you-brush-your-teeth|title=Why Does Food Taste Bad After You Brush Your Teeth?|date=2018-08-24|access-date=2018-08-27|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.konbini.com/us/lifestyle/positive-effects-of-embracing-unibrow/|title=People Are Embracing The Unibrow – Here's Why It's A Good Thing|last=Adame|first=Amanda|date=2017-05-25|work=Konbini United States|access-date=2018-08-27|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/shortcuts/2017/may/03/why-its-finally-cool-to-have-a-monobrow|title=Why it’s finally cool to have a monobrow|last=Usborne|first=Simon|date=2017-05-03|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref>

==Medicine==

=== Genetics ===
The unibrow is a recessive genetic trait.<ref>{{cite web|title = Human Traits|url = http://faculty.southwest.tn.edu/jiwilliams/Human_Traits.htm|website = faculty.southwest.tn.edu|access-date = 2016-02-02}}</ref> It is associated with the [[Biology:PAX3|PAX3]] gene.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://theconversation.com/how-we-discovered-the-genetic-origin-of-the-monobrow-and-other-hair-traits-55548|title=How we discovered the genetic origin of the 'monobrow' and other hair traits|last=Adhikari|first=Kaustubh|work=The Conversation|access-date=2018-08-27|language=en}}</ref>

=== Medical conditions ===
A unibrow is part of normal human variation, but can also stem from developmental disorders. A unibrow is a recognized feature of Cornelia De Lange syndrome, a genetic disorder whose main features include moderate to severe learning difficulties, limb abnormalities such as [[Medicine:Oligodactyly|oligodactyly]] (fewer than normal fingers or toes) and phocomelia (malformed limbs), and facial abnormalities including a long [[Biology:Philtrum|philtrum]] (the slight depression/line between the nose and mouth).

Other medical conditions associated with a unibrow include:
*[[Medicine:Waardenburg syndrome|Waardenburg syndrome]];
*[[Medicine:Patau syndrome|Patau syndrome]];
*[[Medicine:Smith–Lemli–Opitz syndrome|Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome]];
*[[Medicine:Sanfilippo syndrome|Sanfilippo syndrome]];
*[[Medicine:3p deletion syndrome|3p deletion syndrome]];<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/Condition/3750/3p_deletion_syndrome.aspx|title=Chromosome 3p- syndrome             {{!}} Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD) – an NCATS Program|website=rarediseases.info.nih.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref>
* Chromosome Deletion Dillan 4p Syndrome ([[Medicine:Wolf–Hirschhorn syndrome|Wolf–Hirschhorn syndrome]]);
*[[Medicine:Gorlin syndrome|Gorlin syndrome]] (Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome);
Cornelia de Lange Syndrome
* [http://wiki.medpedia.com/Frontometaphyseal_dysplasia Frontometaphyseal] [[Biology:Dysplasia|dysplasia]];
* [[Medicine:Alpha-thalassemia mental retardation syndrome|ATRX syndrome]];
* Chromosome 9q34 Microdeletion Syndrome or Kleefstra syndrome.

== See also ==
* [[Medicine:Glabella|Glabella]]

== References ==

<references />


[[Category:Facial features]]

{{Sourceattribution|Unibrow|1}}