Accessory navicular: A heritable accessory bone of the human foot (original) (raw)
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American journal of …, 2005
Based on an analysis of nonmetric trait databases from several large skeletal series in Northern Europe and South America, representing 27 bilateral traits, we report a predictable relationship between the frequency of nonmetric traits and the probability that they are expressed bilaterally. In a wider sampling of traits and populations, this study thus confirms the findings of an earlier study by Ossenberg ([1981] Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 54:471-479), which reported the same relationship for two mandibular traits. This trend was previously explained by extending the multifactorial threshold model for discontinuous traits to incorporate either separate thresholds for unilateral or bilateral expression, or by a fuzzy threshold in which the probability of bilateral expression increases away from the median threshold value. We show that the trend is produced under the standard multifactorial threshold model
Endocranial traits. Prevalence and distribution in a recent human population
European journal of anatomy, 2003
A recent human population from Italy was analysed for the prevalence and expression of endocranial characters, as well as for the presence of some ectocranial epigenetic traits. The purpose was to provide a supplementary database for the characterisation of some features used to compare the variability of extant and extinct human groups. Many differences between males and females are the result of allometric trajectories, with males shifted to a larger size. In contrast, other features may be unrelated to size and thus interpreted as real sexual characters. The cranial base angle is slightly but significantly related to size, particularly to the vertical skull development. The digital impressions are more expressed in males but there is no evidence of a correlation with size. Arachnoid granulations show no relationship with sex, age or size. The middle meningeal vessels are extremely variable but with a general dominance of the anterior branch providing the parietal supply, and with...
American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 2006
As great morphological variability characterizes the phalanges of the human toes in adults, we hypothesized for a possible variability in the presence or absence of their secondary (¼ epiphyseal) centers of ossification linked to the unique morphology of the human foot within primates. The aim of this study was thus to provide original and detailed data on the occurrence of these centers. Classically, the big toe or hallux (I) presents two secondary centers and the lateral toes (II-V) three centers, and consequently the five toes present a total of 14 secondary centers. The material studied consisted of 261 foot radiographs from 261 young individuals of European origin (202 males and 59 females; 6-16 years). The presence (or absence) of the secondary centers of the phalanges of the toes was assessed for each foot. Feet presenting a biphalangeal variant in one or more lateral toes were studied separately. The theoretical possibilities of association of the three secondary centers in a given lateral toe (II-V) are eight in number; these eight patterns were studied and coded in the present study by types A-H. An exceptional variability in the occurrence of the secondary centers in lateral toes (II-V) was observed, and the classic pattern of phalangeal ossification was never observed. The absence of one or more secondary centers seems to be observed only in the human species, and we suggest that this could be a derived pattern specific to the human species, i.e., autapomorphic pattern. These results are of interest in the characterization and understanding of the reduction in size of the lateral toes which characterizes the specific evolution of the human foot.
American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 2005
Based on an analysis of nonmetric trait databases from several large skeletal series in Northern Europe and South America, representing 27 bilateral traits, we report a predictable relationship between the frequency of nonmetric traits and the probability that they are expressed bilaterally. In a wider sampling of traits and populations, this study thus confirms the findings of an earlier study by Ossenberg ([1981] Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 54:471-479), which reported the same relationship for two mandibular traits. This trend was previously explained by extending the multifactorial threshold model for discontinuous traits to incorporate either separate thresholds for unilateral or bilateral expression, or by a fuzzy threshold in which the probability of bilateral expression increases away from the median threshold value. We show that the trend is produced under the standard multifactorial threshold model
Journal of Anatomy, 2016
The human lateral toes are characterised by extreme reduction compared with other primates, and in particular other hominoids. Some phalangeal non-metric variants have been well identified in humans, in particular: triphalangeal/biphalangeal patterns, and the presence/absence of phalangeal secondary centres of ossification. The purpose of the present study was to describe and analyse an original non-metric variation of the middle phalanges of the lateral toes. The material consisted of 2541 foot radiographs that came from 2541 different European adult individuals. Two morphological types of the middle phalanx were defined as a simple binary trait: long type (L) and short type (S). In feet with a triphalangeal pattern in all lateral toes (1413 cases), a mediolateral increasing gradient was observed in the occurrence of type S: 8.1% in II; 30.7% in III; 68.4% in IV; and 99.1% in V. In feet with a biphalangeal pattern in one or more lateral toes (III-V; 1128 cases), type S occurred more frequently than in triphalangeal feet. Of the 30 theoretical arrangements of the L/S types in the lateral toes (II-V) in a complete foot, only 13 patterns were observed. Seven patterns represented 95.6% of the population: LLSS (20.9%), LLLS (17.1%), LSS (15.9%), SSS (14.5%), LSSS (12.7%), LLS (10.1%) and SSSS (4.4%). Type L can be interpreted as the primitive pattern (plesiomorphy), and type S as a derived pattern (apomorphy) that seems specific to the human species (i.e. autapomorphy). Within the specific evolution of the human foot in relation to the acquisition of constant erect posture and bipedalism, the short type of the middle phalanges can reasonably be considered as directly linked to the reduction of the lateral toes.
Variations in the Presence and Prominence of the Features in the Long Bones of Limbs
International Journal of Current Research and Review, 2014
The present study was undertaken, to report the subjectively observed variations in the presence and / or prominence of features in the long bones of limbs. Material and Method: The observed features multiplied with the total number of bones were: humerus 576(16x36); radius 240(8x30); ulna 270(9x30); femur 1008(16x63); tibia 380(10x38), fibula 152(4x38). The features were graded for their presence or prominence and analyzed for their combined/ individual total; total between and within the right and left sides. Results: The combined total of the presence and prominence of the features were greater for the right femur (576/1008, 57.1%). The individual total showed that the presence of features was greater in tibia (259/380, 68.2%) and prominence of features in ulna (164/270, 60.8%). Between sides, the prominence of the features was greater for right femur (355/603, 59%). Within the sides, the prominence of the features was high for ulna (82/126, 65%). X 2 value indicated that the prominence of the features for femur could be of value in side determination. The observations on the prominence of individual features in long bones of the limbs showed a high percentage value for the nutrient foramen in femur (56/63, 88.9%). Conclusion: From the present study, it is seen, that features could have become prominent due to genetic and/or environmental factors such as nutrition and biomechanics during the process of the formation of the features.
Annals of Anatomy - Anatomischer Anzeiger, 2003
The occurrence and morphology of an intermetatarsal facet of the first metatarsal bone have been investigated in a series of 306 nonhuman primates representative of 40 genera, and in a series of 412 human metatarsal bones (dried bones) (215 left, 197 right). In nonhuman primates, no case of intermetatarsal facet was observed in the 306 first metatarsal bones studied. In humans, a well-defined intermetatarsal facet was observed in 127 out of the 412 bones (30.8%); no significant difference was observed between the left and right sides. The shape of the facet was elliptical, more or less elongated; it had a mean major axis (height) of 10.7 ram, and a mean minor axis (width) of 6.1 mm (extremes: 5 x3 mm and 17 × 10 mm). The facet was located in the dorsal third of the lateral side of the first metatarsal in 103 out of 127 cases (81.1%), and in the middle third in 24 out of 127 cases (18.9%); it was never observed in the plantar third. The intermetatarsal facet was in connection with the proximal articular facet for the medial cuneiform in 68 out of 127 cases (53.5%), and it was separated from the proximal facet by a small nonarticular area or groove in 59 out of 127 cases (46.5%). The present observations suggest that the human first intermetatarsal facet is a derived trait unique within primates (autapomorphy) which is present in approximately one third of individuals. The appearance of this new articular facet in human evolution seems clearly related to the morphological modifications of the foot due to the acquisition of bipedalism, and more particularly to the loss of abductability of the hallux and its permanent adduction.