Abdominal Hair - Patterns

Patterns

Various studies of Caucasian subjects have documented four general patterns of pubic and abdominal hair including:

• Horizontal — Characterized by upper surface of pubic hair terminating in a horizontal line with no hair extending to the abdomen.
• Sagittal — Resembles the first but with the addition of a narrow vertical band of hair extending from the pubic hair towards the navel, often slang called a 'Treasure Trail' or 'Happy Trail'.
• Acuminate — Characterized by a tapered, inverted 'V' pattern extending upward from the pubic hair. Upper limit may end below the navel, at the navel, above the navel or near the chest.
• Disperse (or quadrangular) — Hair is distributed broadly over the abdomen without forming a discrete geometric pattern.

Richard Zickler performed a 1997 study (see citation below) of the above patterns and their occurrence in males and females, paying particular attention to the development of hair during puberty. In Zickler's study the horizontal pattern was most common in females with an incidence of about 80 percent. This pattern occurred in 6% of males, including 55% of 13–15 year olds and 28% of 16 and 17 year olds. The sagittal pattern was found in 44% of males under 16, 67% of males aged 16–17, 20% of males over 17, and 17% of females. The acuminate pattern occurred in about 55 percent of males and occasionally in females. The disperse pattern occurred in about 19 percent of the males studied.