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Figus C, Stephens NB, Sorrentino R, Bortolini E, Arrighi S, Higgins OA, Lugli F, Marciani G, Oxilia G, Romandini M, Silvestrini S, Baruffaldi F, Belcastro MG, Bernardini F, Festa A, Hajdu T, Mateovics‐László O, Pap I, Szeniczey T, Tuniz C, Ryan TM, Benazzi S. Morphologies in-between: The impact of the first steps on the human talus. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2023; 306:124-142. [PMID: 35656925 PMCID: PMC10083965 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The development of bipedalism is a very complex activity that contributes to shaping the anatomy of the foot. The talus, which starts ossifying in utero, may account for the developing stages from the late gestational phase onwards. Here, we explore the early development of the talus in both its internal and external morphology to broaden the knowledge of the anatomical changes that occur during early development. MATERIALS AND METHODS The sample consists of high-resolution microCT scans of 28 modern juvenile tali (from 36 prenatal weeks to 2 years), from a broad chronological range from the Late Roman period to the 20th century. We applied geometric morphometric and whole-bone trabecular analysis to investigate the early talar morphological changes. RESULTS In the youngest group (<6 postnatal months), the immature external shell is accompanied by an isotropic internal structure, with thin and densely packed trabeculae. After the initial attempts of locomotion, bone volume fraction decreases, while anisotropy and trabecular thickness increase. These internal changes correspond to the maturation of the external shell, which is now more defined and shows the development of the articular surfaces. DISCUSSION The internal and external morphology of the human talus reflects the diverse load on the foot during the initial phases of the bipedal locomotion, with the youngest group potentially reflecting the lack of readiness of the human talus to bear forces and perform bipedal walking. These results highlight the link between mechanical loading and bone development in the human talus during the acquisition of bipedalism, providing new insight into the early phases of talar development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Figus
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
| | - Nicholas B. Stephens
- Department of AnthropologyPennsylvania State UniversityState CollegePennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Rita Sorrentino
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences – BigeaUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Eugenio Bortolini
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
- Human Ecology and Archaeology (HUMANE)IMF, CSI0CBarcelonaSpain
| | - Simona Arrighi
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
| | - Owen A. Higgins
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
| | - Federico Lugli
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
| | - Giulia Marciani
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
- Research Unit Prehistory and Anthropology, Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and EnvironmentUniversity of SienaSienaItaly
| | - Gregorio Oxilia
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
| | - Matteo Romandini
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
| | - Sara Silvestrini
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
| | - Fabio Baruffaldi
- Laboratory of Medical TechnologyIRCCS Istituto Ortopedico RizzoliBolognaItaly
| | - Maria Giovanna Belcastro
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences – BigeaUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Federico Bernardini
- Department of Humanistic StudiesUniversità Ca'FoscariVeneziaItaly
- Multidisciplinary LaboratoryAbdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical PhysicsTriesteItaly
| | - Anna Festa
- Laboratory of Medical TechnologyIRCCS Istituto Ortopedico RizzoliBolognaItaly
| | - Tamás Hajdu
- Department of Biological Anthropology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of ScienceEötvös Loránd UniversityBudapestHungary
| | | | - Ildiko Pap
- Department of Biological Anthropology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of ScienceEötvös Loránd UniversityBudapestHungary
- Department of Biological Anthropology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Science and InformaticsSzeged UniversitySzegedHungary
- Department of AnthropologyHungarian Natural History MuseumBudapestHungary
| | - Tamás Szeniczey
- Department of Biological Anthropology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of ScienceEötvös Loránd UniversityBudapestHungary
| | - Claudio Tuniz
- Multidisciplinary LaboratoryAbdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical PhysicsTriesteItaly
- Centre for Archaeological ScienceUniversity of WollongongWollongongNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Timothy M. Ryan
- Department of AnthropologyPennsylvania State UniversityState CollegePennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Stefano Benazzi
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
- Department of Human EvolutionMax Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyLeipzigGermany
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Figus C, Stephens NB, Sorrentino R, Bortolini E, Arrighi S, Lugli F, Marciani G, Oxilia G, Romandini M, Silvestrini S, Baruffaldi F, Belcastro MG, Bernardini F, Erjavec I, Festa A, Hajdu T, Mateovics‐László O, Novak M, Pap I, Szeniczey T, Tuniz C, Ryan TM, Benazzi S. Human talar ontogeny: Insights from morphological and trabecular changes during postnatal growth. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2022; 179:211-228. [PMCID: PMC9804293 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Objectives The study of the development of human bipedalism can provide a unique perspective on the evolution of morphology and behavior across species. To generate new knowledge of these mechanisms, we analyze changes in both internal and external morphology of the growing human talus in a sample of modern human juveniles using an innovative approach. Materials and Methods The sample consists of high‐resolution microCT scans of 70 modern juvenile tali, aged between 8 postnatal weeks and 10 years old, from a broad chronological range from Middle/Late Neolithic, that is, between 4800 and 4500 BCE, to the 20th century. We applied geometric morphometric and whole‐bone trabecular analysis (bone volume fraction, degree of anisotropy, trabecular number, thickness, and spacing) to all specimens to identify changes in the external and internal morphology during growth. Morphometric maps were also generated. Results During the first year of life, the talus has an immature and globular shape, with a dense, compact, and rather isotropic trabecular architecture, with numerous trabeculae packed closely together. This pattern changes while children acquire a more mature gait, and the talus tends to have a lower bone volume fraction, a higher anisotropy, and a more mature shape. Discussion The changes in talar internal and external morphologies reflect the different loading patterns experienced during growth, gradually shifting from an “unspecialized” morphology to a more complex one, following the development of bipedal gait. Our research shows that talar plasticity, even though genetically driven, may show mechanical influences and contribute to tracking the main locomotor milestones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Figus
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
| | - Nicholas B. Stephens
- Department of AnthropologyPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Rita Sorrentino
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences – BigeaUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Eugenio Bortolini
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
- Human Ecology and Archaeology (HUMANE)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Simona Arrighi
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
| | - Federico Lugli
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
| | - Giulia Marciani
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
| | - Gregorio Oxilia
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
| | - Matteo Romandini
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
| | - Sara Silvestrini
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
| | - Fabio Baruffaldi
- Laboratory of Medical TechnologyIRCCS Istituto Ortopedico RizzoliBolognaItaly
| | - Maria Giovanna Belcastro
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences – BigeaUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Federico Bernardini
- Department of Humanistic StudiesUniversità Ca'FoscariVeneziaItaly
- Multidisciplinary LaboratoryAbdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical PhysicsTriesteItaly
| | - Igor Erjavec
- Laboratory for Mineralized TissueCentre for Translational and Clinical ResearchZagrebCroatia
| | - Anna Festa
- Laboratory of Medical TechnologyIRCCS Istituto Ortopedico RizzoliBolognaItaly
| | - Tamás Hajdu
- Department of Biological Anthropology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of ScienceEötvös Loránd UniversityBudapestHungary
| | | | - Mario Novak
- Centre for Applied BioanthropologyInstitute for Anthropological ResearchZagrebCroatia
| | - Ildikó Pap
- Department of Biological Anthropology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of ScienceEötvös Loránd UniversityBudapestHungary
- Department of AnthropologyHungarian Natural History MuseumBudapestHungary
- Department of Biological Anthropology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Science and InformaticsSzeged UniversitySzegedHungary
| | - Tamás Szeniczey
- Department of Biological Anthropology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of ScienceEötvös Loránd UniversityBudapestHungary
| | - Claudio Tuniz
- Multidisciplinary LaboratoryAbdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical PhysicsTriesteItaly
- Centre for Archaeological ScienceUniversity of WollongongWollongongAustralia
| | - Timothy M. Ryan
- Department of AnthropologyPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Stefano Benazzi
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
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Sorrentino R, Stephens NB, Carlson KJ, Figus C, Fiorenza L, Frost S, Harcourt-Smith W, Parr W, Saers J, Turley K, Wroe S, Belcastro MG, Ryan TM, Benazzi S. The influence of mobility strategy on the modern human talus. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2019; 171:456-469. [PMID: 31825095 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The primate talus is known to have a shape that varies according to differences in locomotion and substrate use. While the modern human talus is morphologically specialized for bipedal walking, relatively little is known on how its morphology varies in relation to cultural and environmental differences across time. Here we compare tali of modern human populations with different subsistence economies and lifestyles to explore how cultural practices and environmental factors influence external talar shape. MATERIALS AND METHODS The sample consists of digital models of 142 tali from 11 archaeological and post-industrial modern human groups. Talar morphology was investigated through 3D (semi)landmark based geometric morphometric methods. RESULTS Our results show distinct differences between highly mobile hunter-gatherers and more sedentary groups belonging to a mixed post-agricultural/industrial background. Hunter-gatherers exhibit a more "flexible" talar shape, everted posture, and a more robust and medially oriented talar neck/head, which we interpret as reflecting long-distance walking strictly performed barefoot, or wearing minimalistic footwear, along uneven ground. The talus of the post-industrial population exhibits a "stable" profile, neutral posture, and a less robust and orthogonally oriented talar neck/head, which we interpret as a consequence of sedentary lifestyle and use of stiff footwear. DISCUSSION We suggest that talar morphological variation is related to the adoption of constraining footwear in post-industrial society, which reduces ankle range of motion. This contrasts with hunter-gatherers, where talar shape shows a more flexible profile, likely resulting from a lack of footwear while traversing uneven terrain. We conclude that modern human tali vary with differences in locomotor and cultural behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Sorrentino
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Nicholas B Stephens
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania
| | - Kristian J Carlson
- Department of Integrative Anatomical Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.,Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Palaeosciences Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Carla Figus
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Luca Fiorenza
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.,Earth Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stephen Frost
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
| | - William Harcourt-Smith
- Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, New York.,New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, New York.,Department of Anthropology, Lehman College, New York, New York.,Division of Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York
| | - William Parr
- Surgical and Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Prince of Wales Hospital, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jaap Saers
- PAVE Research Group, Department of Archaeology & Anthropology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kevin Turley
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
| | - Stephen Wroe
- Function, Evolution and Anatomy Research Laboratory, Zoology Division, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Maria G Belcastro
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,ADES, UMR 7268 CNRS/Aix-Marseille Université/EFS, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille Cedex 15, France
| | - Timothy M Ryan
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania
| | - Stefano Benazzi
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy.,Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
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4
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Simons EA, Turley K, Frost SR. Phylogenetic Perspectives on Catarrhine Talo-Crural Joint Phenotypic Plasticity. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2019; 302:1977-1984. [PMID: 31120200 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Previous investigations of the primate talo-crural joint (TCJ; specifically on the talus and distal tibia) have demonstrated that substrate preference significantly influences morphology, but this association is not necessarily found in subadults. This has been interpreted as the result of a plastic, behaviorally induced response of bone due to substrate use. In this investigation, we use geometric morphometric and phylogenetic comparative methods to investigate ontogenetic phenotypic plasticity in the catarrhine TCJ. Osteological specimens from four African hominoid and four cercopithecid species, divided into subadult and adult developmental stages based on molar eruption, formed the study group. We tested for phylogenetic signal in the shape of both the talar and tibial articular surfaces, at both developmental stages. We then used phylomorphospaces to examine the evolution of shape differences at each developmental stage for each element, and to determine if substrate usage is associated with shape in this phylogenetic context. A significant phylogenetic signal was found for both articular surfaces in subadults, but not adults. In phylomorphospace, both talar and tibial articular morphologies show an association with substrate preference in adults, but not in subadults. Our results provide confirmation of the significant effect of habitual substrate usage and the consequences of bone remodeling during ontogeny on the shape and presentation of the TCJ. These results also suggest caution when using adult talo-tibial shapes to evaluate phylogenetic relationships as TCJ morphology can be considered as a palimpsest, with substrate usage overwriting phylogenetic information in adult specimens. Anat Rec, 302:1977-1984, 2019. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan A Simons
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
| | - Kevin Turley
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
| | - Stephen R Frost
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
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Tallman M. Shape Ontogeny of the Distal Femur in the Hominidae with Implications for the Evolution of Bipedality. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0148371. [PMID: 26886416 PMCID: PMC4757424 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2014] [Accepted: 01/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Heterochrony has been invoked to explain differences in the morphology of modern humans as compared to other great apes. The distal femur is one area where heterochrony has been hypothesized to explain morphological differentiation among Plio-Pleistocene hominins. This hypothesis is evaluated here using geometric morphometric data to describe the ontogenetic shape trajectories of extant hominine distal femora and place Plio-Pleistocene hominins within that context. Results of multivariate statistical analyses showed that in both Homo and Gorilla, the shape of the distal femur changes significantly over the course of development, whereas that of Pan changes very little. Development of the distal femur of Homo is characterized by an elongation of the condyles, and a greater degree of enlargement of the medial condyle relative to the lateral condyle, whereas Gorilla are characterized by a greater degree of enlargement of the lateral condyle, relative to the medial. Early Homo and Australopithecus africanus fossils fell on the modern human ontogenetic shape trajectory and were most similar to either adult or adolescent modern humans while specimens of Australopithecus afarensis were more similar to Gorilla/Pan. These results indicate that shape differences among the distal femora of Plio-Pleistocene hominins and humans cannot be accounted for by heterochrony alone; heterochrony could explain a transition from the distal femoral shape of early Homo/A. africanus to modern Homo, but not a transition from A. afarensis to Homo. That change could be the result of genetic or epigenetic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Tallman
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI, United States of America
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