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Mameli D, Pietrobelli A, Sorrentino R, Nicolosi T, Mariotti V, Belcastro MG. Entheseal variation and locomotor behavior during growth. J Anat 2024; 245:137-155. [PMID: 38361247 PMCID: PMC11161830 DOI: 10.1111/joa.14023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Entheses are acknowledged as skeletal markers capable of revealing several biological and behavioral aspects of past individuals and populations. However, entheseal changes (ECs) of juvenile individuals have not yet been studied with a systematic approach. This contribution aims at investigating the morphological changes occurring at the femoral insertion of the gluteus maximus and tibial origin of the soleus muscles to highlight a potential link between the morphological features of those entheses and skeletal maturity in relation to sex, age, and locomotor developmental patterns. The sample consisted of 119 skeletons (age-at-death: 0-30 years) belonging to the Documented Human Skeletal Collection of the Certosa Cemetery (Bologna, Italy). The entheseal variation during the last stages of skeletal maturation in young adults was assessed using existing recording standards. A recording protocol for each enthesis was developed for immature individuals to subdivide the morphological variability into discrete categories. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate statistical analyses were performed to investigate the variation of entheseal morphologies and measurements in relation to bone metrics, degree of epiphyseal closure, sex, age, and locomotor developmental patterns. A statistically significant relationship was observed between ECs morphological patterns and age for both entheses, while sexual differences were negligible. A relationship between ECs morphological pattern and locomotor milestones emerged only for the gluteus maximus. Even though further testing is needed on other documented skeletal collections, our protocol could be usefully applied in forensic and archaeological fields and serving as important reference for evolutionary investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Mameli
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Annalisa Pietrobelli
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Rita Sorrentino
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Teresa Nicolosi
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Cultural Heritage, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Valentina Mariotti
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Giovanna Belcastro
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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2
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Gaya-Sancho B, Sanjuan-Sánchez D, Ráfales-Perucha A, Zaurín-Paniagua L, Sáez-Gutiérrez B, Galarreta-Aperte S. Comparison of measurements made on dry bone and digital measurements in Anatomage for the sacral bone in a Spanish population. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20578. [PMID: 37996512 PMCID: PMC10667331 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48013-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of osteometry for human identification is a key element in the field of forensic sciences. Currently, the osteometry focuses on the use of digital techniques such as photography or 3D scans, to study and measure bones, offering advantages like easy access, preservation of bones, and worldwide collaboration possibilities. The study aims to analyze whether digital tools such as Anatomage can be used to collect reliable data. The study compares measurements of the sacral bone from 41 individuals from Orgiva Collection using both traditional and digital methods. The variables analyzed were described previously, including landmarks and positions, and were coded by differentiating the measurements between dry bone (caliper) and digital measurement (Anatomage). Results indicate minimal differences between digital and dry bone measurements, with only one variable showing a significant differences in the effect size analysis (d > 0.80). The TEM analysis showed four variables as non-acceptable (rTEM > 1.5), possibly due to the landmark location or the experience using the tool to locate landmarks. Digital resources are valuable for morphometric evaluations and human identification within forensic sciences. However, caution is necessary to ensure accurate landmark localization and validate these tools across various bone types and larger sample sizes.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Gaya-Sancho
- Health Science Faculty, Universidad San Jorge, Zaragoza, Spain.
- Campus Universitario Villanueva de Gállego, Autov. A-23 Zaragoza - Huesca, Km. 299, Villanueva de Gállego, 50830, Zaragoza, Spain.
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3
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Sorrentino R, Carlson KJ, Orr CM, Pietrobelli A, Figus C, Li S, Conconi M, Sancisi N, Belvedere C, Zhu M, Fiorenza L, Hublin JJ, Jashashvili T, Novak M, Patel BA, Prang TC, Williams SA, Saers JPP, Stock JT, Ryan T, Myerson M, Leardini A, DeSilva J, Marchi D, Belcastro MG, Benazzi S. Morphological and evolutionary insights into the keystone element of the human foot's medial longitudinal arch. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1061. [PMID: 37857853 PMCID: PMC10587292 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05431-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The evolution of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) is one of the most impactful adaptations in the hominin foot that emerged with bipedalism. When and how it evolved in the human lineage is still unresolved. Complicating the issue, clinical definitions of flatfoot in living Homo sapiens have not reached a consensus. Here we digitally investigate the navicular morphology of H. sapiens (living, archaeological, and fossil), great apes, and fossil hominins and its correlation with the MLA. A distinctive navicular shape characterises living H. sapiens with adult acquired flexible flatfoot, while the congenital flexible flatfoot exhibits a 'normal' navicular shape. All H. sapiens groups differentiate from great apes independently from variations in the MLA, likely because of bipedalism. Most australopith, H. naledi, and H. floresiensis navicular shapes are closer to those of great apes, which is inconsistent with a human-like MLA and instead might suggest a certain degree of arboreality. Navicular shape of OH 8 and fossil H. sapiens falls within the normal living H. sapiens spectrum of variation of the MLA (including congenital flexible flatfoot and individuals with a well-developed MLA). At the same time, H. neanderthalensis seem to be characterised by a different expression of the MLA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Sorrentino
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40126, Italy.
| | - Kristian J Carlson
- Department of Integrative Anatomical Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, 90033, USA
- Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, WITS 2050, South Africa
| | - Caley M Orr
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, 80217, USA
| | - Annalisa Pietrobelli
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - Carla Figus
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, 48121, Italy
| | - Shuyuan Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Michele Conconi
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Health Sciences and Technologies, Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, 40136, Italy
| | - Nicola Sancisi
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Health Sciences and Technologies, Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, 40136, Italy
| | - Claudio Belvedere
- Laboratory of Movement Analysis and Functional Evaluation of Prostheses, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mingjie Zhu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Luca Fiorenza
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Jean-Jacques Hublin
- Chaire Internationale de Paléoanthropologie, CIRB (UMR 7241-U1050), Collège de France, Paris, France
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
| | - Tea Jashashvili
- Department of Integrative Anatomical Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, 90033, USA
- Department of Geology and Paleontology, Georgian National Museum, Tbilisi, 0105, Georgia
| | - Mario Novak
- Centre for Applied Bioanthropology, Institute for Anthropological Research, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
| | - Biren A Patel
- Department of Integrative Anatomical Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, 90033, USA
- Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, 90089, USA
| | - Thomas C Prang
- Department of Anthropology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Scott A Williams
- Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, WITS 2050, South Africa
- Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, 10003, USA
- Centre for the Exploration of the Deep Human Journey, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Wits, 2050, South Africa
| | - Jaap P P Saers
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, 2333, CR, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jay T Stock
- Department of Anthropology, Western University, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Timothy Ryan
- Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Mark Myerson
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Alberto Leardini
- Laboratory of Movement Analysis and Functional Evaluation of Prostheses, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Jeremy DeSilva
- Department of Anthropology, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - Damiano Marchi
- Centre for the Exploration of the Deep Human Journey, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Wits, 2050, South Africa
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Maria Giovanna Belcastro
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - Stefano Benazzi
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, 48121, Italy
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Sylvester AD, Wescott DJ, Cunningham DL, Gleiber DS. Effects of obesity on talar micro- and macro-morphology. J Forensic Sci 2023; 68:369-381. [PMID: 36707925 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.15209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The addition of information regarding obesity status to the forensic anthropological biological profile could significantly contribute to the identification of human skeletal remains since over 40% of the U.S. adult population is currently obese. This study examines the differences in talar shape and trabecular bone structure between obese and non-obese individuals. A sample of 20 obese and 20 non-obese divided evenly by sex was selected from the Texas State University Donated Skeletal Collection. Tali were imaged using x-ray computed tomography (voxel size: 28-38.7 μm). Image stacks were processed to produce binary images as well as trabecular thickness and spacing maps. Landmark-based geometric morphometric analyses were conducted to quantify shape variation. Shape coordinates were used to locate 100 geometrically homologous volumes of interest within each talus. Bone volume fraction, trabecular thickness, and trabecular spacing were extracted at each volume of interest. Within each sex, a one-way ANCOVA was used to determine if significant differences exist between obese and non-obese individuals in trabecular bone after controlling for age. The size of the talus as well as subtle aspects of shape were found to distinguish the sexes. The results further indicate that bone volume fraction significantly differs between obese and non-obese males. In females, bone volume fraction is correlated with age but does not differ between obese and non-obese. The study demonstrates that bone microstructure is a promising approach to estimating body mass or body mass index category but age effects diminish the potential for the talus to be used alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam D Sylvester
- Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Daniel J Wescott
- Department of Anthropology, Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA
| | - Deborah L Cunningham
- Department of Anthropology, Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA
| | - Devora S Gleiber
- Department of Anthropology, Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA
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5
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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: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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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6
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Oxilia G, Bortolini E, Marciani G, Menghi Sartorio JC, Vazzana A, Bettuzzi M, Panetta D, Arrighi S, Badino F, Figus C, Lugli F, Romandini M, Silvestrini S, Sorrentino R, Moroni A, Donadio C, Morigi MP, Slon V, Piperno M, Talamo S, Collina C, Benazzi S. Direct evidence that late Neanderthal occupation precedes a technological shift in southwestern Italy. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2022; 179:18-30. [PMID: 36790758 PMCID: PMC9541503 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES During the middle-to-upper Paleolithic transition (50,000 and 40,000 years ago), interaction between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens varied across Europe. In southern Italy, the association between Homo sapiens fossils and non-Mousterian material culture, as well as the mode and tempo of Neanderthal demise, are still vividly debated. In this research, we focus on the study of two human teeth by using 3D geometric morphometric approaches for a reliable taxonomical attribution as well as obtaining new radiometric dates on the archeological sequence. MATERIAL AND METHODS This work presents two lower deciduous molars uncovered at Roccia San Sebastiano (Mondragone-Caserta, Italy), stratigraphically associated with Mousterian (RSS1) and Uluzzian (RSS2) artifacts. To obtain a probabilistic attribution of the two RSS teeth to each reference taxa group composed of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens, we performed and compared the performance of three supervised learning algorithms (flexible discriminant analysis, multiadaptive regression splines, and random forest) on both crown and cervical outlines obtained by virtual morphometric methods. RESULTS We show that RSS1, whose Mousterian context appears more recent than 44,800-44,230 cal BP, can be attributed to a Neanderthal, while RSS2, found in an Uluzzian context that we dated to 42,640-42,380 cal BP, is attributed to Homo sapiens. DISCUSSION This site yields the most recent direct evidence for a Neanderthal presence in southern Italy and confirms a later shift to upper Paleolithic technology in southwestern Italy compared to the earliest Uluzzian evidence at Grotta del Cavallo (Puglia, Italy).
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregorio Oxilia
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
| | - Eugenio Bortolini
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly,Department of Archaeology and AnthropologyInstitució Milà i Fontanals de Investigación en Humanidades, CSICBarcelonaSpain
| | - Giulia Marciani
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly,Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and EnvironmentUniversity of Siena, U. R. Preistoria e AntropologiaSienaItaly
| | | | - Antonino Vazzana
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
| | - Matteo Bettuzzi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy “Augusto Righi”University of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | | | - Simona Arrighi
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly,Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and EnvironmentUniversity of Siena, U. R. Preistoria e AntropologiaSienaItaly
| | - Federica Badino
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly,CNR Institute of Environmental Geology and GeoengineeringMilanItaly
| | - Carla Figus
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
| | - Federico Lugli
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly,Department of Chemical and Geological SciencesUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly
| | - Matteo Romandini
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
| | - Sara Silvestrini
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
| | - Rita Sorrentino
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
| | - Adriana Moroni
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and EnvironmentUniversity of Siena, U. R. Preistoria e AntropologiaSienaItaly
| | - Carlo Donadio
- Department of Earth Sciences, Environment and ResourcesUniversity of Naples Federico IINaplesItaly
| | - Maria Pia Morigi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy “Augusto Righi”University of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Viviane Slon
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Evolutionary GeneticsLeipzigGermany,Tel Aviv University, Department of Anatomy and Anthropology and Department of Human Molecular Genetics and BiochemistrySackler Faculty of MedicineTel AvivIsrael,Tel Aviv University, The Dan David Center for Human Evolution and Biohistory ResearchTel AvivIsrael
| | | | - Sahra Talamo
- Department of Chemistry “G. Ciamician”University of BolognaBolognaItaly,Department of Human EvolutionMax Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyLeipzigGermany
| | | | - Stefano Benazzi
- Department of Cultural HeritageUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly,Department of Human EvolutionMax Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyLeipzigGermany
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7
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Sexual Dimorphism in the Fibular Extremities of Italians and South Africans of Identified Modern Human Skeletal Collections: A Geometric Morphometric Approach. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11071079. [PMID: 36101455 PMCID: PMC9312998 DOI: 10.3390/biology11071079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary The extremities of the fibula may reflect differences between males and females, although so far only few studies included this bone for post-cranial sex assessment. Our work explored shape and size variation between sexes in identified skeletal samples comprising different populations from Italy and South Africa and showed that fibular extremities are significantly smaller, with narrower articular surfaces in females than in males. Consistent sex-related differences are revealed in fibular form and size in Italians but not in South Africans. Potential application in forensic and bioarcheological contexts may benefit from the use of this approach. Abstract Fibular metric variations have revealed their potential in distinguishing between males and females; however the fibula remains scarcely analyzed in studies of sexual dimorphism. This work aims at investigating sexually dimorphic features in fibular proximal and distal epiphyses through geometric morphometrics methods. A total of 136 left fibulae, from two Italian and one South African identified skeletal collections were virtually acquired through CT and laser scanning and analyzed using geometric morphometric methods. Statistical analyses were performed on shape, form, and size variables. Results show that fibular epiphyses are smaller with narrower articular surfaces in females than in males in both extremities. Relevant sexual differences emerge in fibular form and size for the two Italian samples but not for the South African one, likely for its small sample size. Discriminant analysis on form principal components (PCs) offers accuracy above 80% when the samples are pooled, and reaches accuracy of 80–93% when the Italian samples are considered separately. However, our method on form PCs was not successful for the South African sample (50–53% accuracy), possibly due to the small sample size. These results show relevant morphological variation in relation to fibular form and size, with a degree of accuracy that indicates the utility of the present method for sexing human fibulae in both forensic and bioarchaeological contexts for Italian samples.
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8
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Vafaeian B, Riahi HT, Amoushahi H, Jomha NM, Adeeb S. A feature-based statistical shape model for geometric analysis of the human talus and development of universal talar prostheses. J Anat 2022; 240:305-322. [PMID: 34549428 PMCID: PMC8742977 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Statistical data pertaining to anatomic variations of the human talus contain valuable information for advances in biological anthropology, diagnosis of the talar pathologies, and designing talar prostheses. A statistical shape model (SSM) can be a powerful data analysis tool for the anatomic variations of the talus. The main concern in constructing an SSM for the talus is establishing the true geometric correspondence between the talar geometries. The true correspondence complies with biological and/or mathematical homologies on the talar surfaces. In this study, we proposed a semi-automatic approach to establish a dense correspondence between talar surfaces discretized by triangular meshes. Through our approach, homologous salient surface features in the form of crest lines were detected on 49 talar surfaces. Then, the point-wise correspondence information of the crest lines was recruited to create posterior Gaussian process morphable models that non-rigidly registered the talar meshes and consequently established inter-mesh dense correspondence. The resultant correspondence perceptually represented the true correspondence as per our visual assessments. Having established the correspondence, we computed the mean shape using full generalized Procrustes analysis and constructed an SSM by means of principal component analysis. Anatomical variations and the mean shape of the talus were predicted by the SSM. As a clinically related application, we considered the mean shape and investigated the feasibility of designing universal talar prostheses. Our results suggest that the mean shape of (the shapes of) tali can be used as a scalable shape template for designing universal talar prostheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behzad Vafaeian
- Faculty of Civil Engineering and TransportationDepartment of Civil EngineeringUniversity of IsfahanIsfahanIran
| | - Hossein Tajmir Riahi
- Faculty of Civil Engineering and TransportationDepartment of Civil EngineeringUniversity of IsfahanIsfahanIran
| | - Hossein Amoushahi
- Faculty of Civil Engineering and TransportationDepartment of Civil EngineeringUniversity of IsfahanIsfahanIran
| | - Nadr M. Jomha
- Division of Orthopaedic SurgeryDepartment of SurgeryUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
| | - Samer Adeeb
- Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
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9
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Unique foot posture in Neanderthals reflects their body mass and high mechanical stress. J Hum Evol 2021; 161:103093. [PMID: 34749003 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2021.103093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Neanderthal foot bone proportions and morphology are mostly indistinguishable from those of Homo sapiens, with the exception of several distinct Neanderthal features in the talus. The biomechanical implications of these distinct talar features remain contentious, fueling debate around the adaptive meaning of this distinctiveness. With the aim of clarifying this controversy, we test phylogenetic and behavioral factors as possible contributors, comparing tali of 10 Neanderthals and 81 H. sapiens (Upper Paleolithic and Holocene hunter-gatherers, agriculturalists, and postindustrial group) along with the Clark Howell talus (Omo, Ethiopia). Variation in external talar structures was assessed through geometric morphometric methods, while bone volume fraction and degree of anisotropy were quantified in a subsample (n = 45). Finally, covariation between point clouds of site-specific trabecular variables and surface landmark coordinates was assessed. Our results show that although Neanderthal talar external and internal morphologies were distinct from those of H. sapiens groups, shape did not significantly covary with either bone volume fraction or degree of anisotropy, suggesting limited covariation between external and internal talar structures. Neanderthal external talar morphology reflects ancestral retentions, along with various adaptations to high levels of mobility correlated to their presumably unshod hunter-gatherer lifestyle. This pairs with their high site-specific trabecular bone volume fraction and anisotropy, suggesting intense and consistently oriented locomotor loading, respectively. Relative to H.sapiens, Neanderthals exhibit differences in the talocrural joint that are potentially attributable to cultural and locomotor behavior dissimilarity, a talonavicular joint that mixes ancestral and functional traits, and a derived subtalar joint that suggests a predisposition for a pronated foot during stance phase. Overall, Neanderthal talar variation is attributable to mobility strategy and phylogenesis, while H. sapiens talar variation results from the same factors plus footwear. Our results suggest that greater Neanderthal body mass and/or higher mechanical stress uniquely led to their habitually pronated foot posture.
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10
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Cook RW, Vazzana A, Sorrentino R, Benazzi S, Smith AL, Strait DS, Ledogar JA. The cranial biomechanics and feeding performance of Homo floresiensis. Interface Focus 2021; 11:20200083. [PMID: 34938433 PMCID: PMC8361579 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2020.0083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Homo floresiensis is a small-bodied hominin from Flores, Indonesia, that exhibits plesiomorphic dentognathic features, including large premolars and a robust mandible, aspects of which have been considered australopith-like. However, relative to australopith species, H. floresiensis exhibits reduced molar size and a cranium with diminutive midfacial dimensions similar to those of later Homo, suggesting a reduction in the frequency of forceful biting behaviours. Our study uses finite-element analysis to examine the feeding biomechanics of the H. floresiensis cranium. We simulate premolar (P3) and molar (M2) biting in a finite-element model (FEM) of the H. floresiensis holotype cranium (LB1) and compare the mechanical results with FEMs of chimpanzees, modern humans and a sample of australopiths (MH1, Sts 5, OH5). With few exceptions, strain magnitudes in LB1 resemble elevated levels observed in modern Homo. Our analysis of LB1 suggests that H. floresiensis could produce bite forces with high mechanical efficiency, but was subject to tensile jaw joint reaction forces during molar biting, which perhaps constrained maximum postcanine bite force production. The inferred feeding biomechanics of H. floresiensis closely resemble modern humans, suggesting that this pattern may have been present in the last common ancestor of Homo sapiens and H. floresiensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca W Cook
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Antonino Vazzana
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Rita Sorrentino
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefano Benazzi
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Amanda L Smith
- Department of Anatomy, Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, Yakima, WA, USA
| | - David S Strait
- Department of Anthropology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Justin A Ledogar
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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11
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Indra L, Vach W, Desideri J, Besse M, Pichler SL. Testing the validity of population-specific sex estimation equations: An evaluation based on talus and patella measurements. Sci Justice 2021; 61:555-563. [PMID: 34482935 DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2021.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Sex estimation is essential for forensic scientists to identify human skeletal remains. However, the most sexually dimorphic elements like pelvis or skull are not always assessable. Osteometric analyses have proven useful in sex estimation, but also to be population specific. The main purpose of this study was to test the validity of contemporary Greek and Spanish discriminant functions for the talus and the patella, respectively, on a Swiss skeletal sample and to quantify the utility of the measurements as a novel approach in osteometric sex assessment. Four talus and three patella measurements on dry bone were obtained from 234 individuals of the modern cemetery SIMON Identified Skeletal Collection. The previously derived discriminant functions were applied, accuracies determined, the utility of the different measurements was assessed and new multivariable equations constructed. Accuracies varied between 67% and 86% for talus and 63% and 84% for patella, similar to those reported by the original studies. Multivariable equations should be preferred over equations based on single measurements and combining the most significant measurements rather than using several variables obtained the best possible accuracy. The new discriminant functions did not provide a substantial improvement to the original ones. The overall utility of talus and patella is limited, allowing sex estimation with sufficient certainty only in a small proportion of individuals. Discriminant functions developed in contemporary Greek or Spanish populations are in principle applicable also to Swiss contemporary populations. We recommend that at present existent studies of this type should be validated and tested rather than developing new formulas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Indra
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Sulgenauweg 40, 3007 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Werner Vach
- Integrative Prehistory and Archaeological Science, University of Basel, Spalenring 145, 4055 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Jocelyne Desideri
- Laboratoire d'archéologie préhistorique et anthropologie, University of Geneva, 66, Boulevard Carl-Vogt, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland.
| | - Marie Besse
- Laboratoire d'archéologie préhistorique et anthropologie, University of Geneva, 66, Boulevard Carl-Vogt, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland.
| | - Sandra L Pichler
- Integrative Prehistory and Archaeological Science, University of Basel, Spalenring 145, 4055 Basel, Switzerland.
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12
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Oxilia G, Menghi Sartorio JC, Bortolini E, Zampirolo G, Papini A, Boggioni M, Martini S, Marciani F, Arrighi S, Figus C, Marciani G, Romandini M, Silvestrini S, Pedrosi ME, Mori T, Riga A, Kullmer O, Sarig R, Fiorenza L, Giganti M, Sorrentino R, Belcastro MG, Cecchi JM, Benazzi S. Exploring directional and fluctuating asymmetry in the human palate during growth. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2021; 175:847-864. [PMID: 33973654 PMCID: PMC8360102 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Objectives Palate morphology is constantly changing throughout an individual's lifespan, yet its asymmetry during growth is still little understood. In this research, we focus on the study of palate morphology by using 3D geometric morphometric approaches to observe changes at different stages of life, and to quantify the impact of directional and fluctuating asymmetry on different areas at different growth stages. Materials and Methods The sample consists of 183 individuals (1–72 years) from two identified human skeletal collections of 19th and early 20th Century Italian contexts. A 3D‐template of 41 (semi)landmarks was applied on digital palate models to observe morphological variation during growth. Results Asymmetrical components of the morphological structure appears multidirectional on the entire palate surface in individuals <2 years old and become oriented (opposite bilateral direction) between 2 and 6 years of age. Specifically, directional asymmetry differentially impacts palate morphology at different stages of growth. Both the anterior and posterior palate are affected by mild alterations in the first year of life, while between 2 and 6 years asymmetry is segregated in the anterior area, and moderate asymmetry affects the entire palatal surface up to 12 years of age. Our results show that stability of the masticatory system seems to be reached around 13–35 years first by females and then males. From 36 years on both sexes show similar asymmetry on the anterior area. Regarding fluctuating asymmetry, inter‐individual variability is mostly visible up to 12 years of age, after which only directional trends can be clearly observed at a group level. Discussion Morphological structure appears instable during the first year of life and acquires an opposite asymmetric bilateral direction between 2 and 6 years of age. This condition has been also documented in adults; when paired with vertical alteration, anterior/posterior asymmetry seems to characterize palate morphology, which is probably due to mechanical factors during the lifespan. Fluctuating asymmetry is predominant in the first period of life due to a plausible relationship with the strength of morphological instability of the masticatory system. Directional asymmetry, on the other hand, shows that the patterning of group‐level morphological change might be explained as a functional response to differential inputs (physiological forces, nutritive and non‐nutritive habits, para‐masticatory activity as well as the development of speech) in different growth stages. This research has implications with respect to medical and evolutionary fields. In medicine, palate morphology should be considered when planning orthodontic and surgical procedures as it could affect the outcome. As far as an evolutionary perspective is concerned the dominance of directional asymmetries in the masticatory system could provide information on dietary and cultural habits as well as pathological conditions in our ancestors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregorio Oxilia
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Jessica C Menghi Sartorio
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy.,Department of Enterprise Engineering, "Mario Lucertini" - Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy
| | - Eugenio Bortolini
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Giulia Zampirolo
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics Øster Farimagsgade, University of Copenhagen, København, Denmark
| | - Andrea Papini
- Dentist's Surgery, via Walter Tobagi 35, Prato, 59100, Italy
| | - Marco Boggioni
- Dentist's Surgery, via D'Andrade 34/207, Genoa Sestri Ponente, 16154, Italy
| | - Sergio Martini
- Dental Lab Technician, via Milani, 1, Verona, 37124, Italy
| | - Filippo Marciani
- Dentist's Surgery, Studio Dentistico Marciani Dr. Filippo, Via Romagnoli, 14, Lanciano, 66034, Italy
| | - Simona Arrighi
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Carla Figus
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Giulia Marciani
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Matteo Romandini
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Sara Silvestrini
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Maria Elena Pedrosi
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences-, BiGeA University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Tommaso Mori
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Riga
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Ottmar Kullmer
- Senckenberg Research Institute, Senckenberganlage 25, Frankfurt am Main, 60325, Germany.,Department of Paleobiology and Environment, Institute of Ecology, Evolution, and Diversity, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Rachel Sarig
- Department of Oral biology, The Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine and the Dan David Center for Human Evolution, the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Luca Fiorenza
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Melchiore Giganti
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Radiology University Unit, University Hospital, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Rita Sorrentino
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy.,Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences-, BiGeA University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Giovanna Belcastro
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences-, BiGeA University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - 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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13
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Belcastro MG, Nicolosi T, Sorrentino R, Mariotti V, Pietrobelli A, Bettuzzi M, Morigi MP, Benazzi S, Talamo S, Miari M, Preti N, Castagna L, Pisani L, Grandi L, Baraldi P, Zannini P, Scarponi D, De Waele J. Unveiling an odd fate after death: The isolated Eneolithic cranium discovered in the Marcel Loubens Cave (Bologna, Northern Italy). PLoS One 2021; 16:e0247306. [PMID: 33657148 PMCID: PMC7928464 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
An isolated human cranium, dated to the early Eneolithic period, was discovered in 2015 at the top of a vertical shaft in the natural Marcel Loubens gypsum Cave (Bologna area, northern Italy). No other anthropological or archaeological remains were found inside the cave. In other caves of the same area anthropic and funerary use are attested from prehistory to more recent periods. We focused on investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of this individual, since the cranium shows signs of some lesions that appear to be the results of a perimortem manipulation probably carried out to remove soft tissues. Anthropological analyses revealed that the cranium belonged to a young woman. We analysed the taphonomic features and geological context to understand how and why the cranium ended up (accidentally or intentionally) in the cave. The analyses of both the sediments accumulated inside the cranium and the incrustations and pigmentation covering its outer surface suggested that it fell into the cave, drawn by a flow of water and mud, likely from the edges of a doline. The accidental nature of the event is also seemingly confirmed by some post-mortem lesions on the cranium. The comparison with other Eneolithic archaeological sites in northern Italy made it possible to interpret the find as likely being from a funerary or ritual context, in which corpse dismemberment (in particular the displacement of crania) was practiced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Giovanna Belcastro
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Teresa Nicolosi
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Rita Sorrentino
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department for the Cultural Heritage, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Valentina Mariotti
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Annalisa Pietrobelli
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Matteo Bettuzzi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Morigi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefano Benazzi
- Department for the Cultural Heritage, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Sahra Talamo
- Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Monica Miari
- Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape of the provinces of Bologna, Modena, Reggio Emilia and Ferrara, Bologna, Italy
| | - Nevio Preti
- Gruppo Speleologico Bolognese (GBS)—Unione Speleologica Bolognese (USB), Bologna, Italy
| | - Lucia Castagna
- Gruppo Speleologico Bolognese (GBS)—Unione Speleologica Bolognese (USB), Bologna, Italy
| | - Luca Pisani
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Gruppo Speleologico Bolognese (GBS)—Unione Speleologica Bolognese (USB), Bologna, Italy
| | - Luca Grandi
- Gruppo Speleologico Bolognese (GBS)—Unione Speleologica Bolognese (USB), Bologna, Italy
| | - Pietro Baraldi
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of the Studies of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Paolo Zannini
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of the Studies of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Daniele Scarponi
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Jo De Waele
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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14
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Sex- and age-related variations in the three-dimensional orientations and curvatures of the articular surfaces of the human talus. Anat Sci Int 2020; 96:258-264. [PMID: 33156497 DOI: 10.1007/s12565-020-00585-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The high prevalence of foot pathologies in women and the elderly could be associated with gender and age difference in the morphology of the foot, particularly the morphology of the keystone of the foot, the talus. The present study investigated the orientation and curvature of the three articular surfaces of the talus in relation to sex and age based on computer tomography (CT), to identify possible morphological factors of the higher prevalence of foot disorders in women and elderly. Fifty-six participants were included in this study. The orientations of the talocrural, subtalar, and talonavicular joints were quantified three-dimensionally by calculating normal and principal axes of the articular surfaces defined by planar approximation. The curvature radii of the articular surfaces were quantified by cylindrical and spherical approximations. The talonavicular surface was significantly more twisted in the frontal plane and less adducted in the transverse plane in females than in males. With aging, the subtalar articular surface was significantly facing more posteriorly. Moreover, it was found that the curvature radii of the trochlea and navicular articular surfaces significantly increased with aging, indicating a flattening of these surfaces. The identified changes in the talar morphology with aging could potentially lead to a higher prevalence of foot disorders in the elderly.
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15
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Bailey SE, Sorrentino R, Mancuso G, Hublin JJ, Benazzi S. Taxonomic differences in deciduous lower first molar crown outlines of Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis. J Hum Evol 2020; 147:102864. [PMID: 32927399 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2020.102864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 07/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated that the outline shapes of deciduous upper and lower second molars and the deciduous upper first molar are useful for diagnosing hominin taxa-especially Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens. Building on these studies, we use geometric morphometric methods to assess the taxonomic significance of the crown outline of the lower first deciduous molar (dm1). We test whether the crown shape of the dm1 distinguishes H. neanderthalensis from H. sapiens and explore whether dm1 crown shape can be used to accurately assign individuals to taxa. Our fossil sample includes 3 early H. sapiens, 7 Upper Paleolithic H. sapiens, and 13 H. neanderthalensis individuals. Our recent human sample includes 103 individuals from Africa, Australia, Europe, South America, and South Asia. Our results indicate that H. neanderthalensis dm1s cluster fairly tightly and separate well from those of Upper Paleolithic H. sapiens. However, we also found that the range of shapes in the recent human sample completely overlaps the ranges of all fossil samples. Consequently, results of the quadratic discriminant analysis based on the first 8 principal components (PCs) representing more than 90% of the variation were mixed. Lower dm1s were correctly classified in 87.3% of the individuals; the combined H. sapiens sample had greater success (90.2%) in assigning individuals than did the H. neanderthalensis sample (61.5%). When the analysis was run removing the highly variable recent human sample, accuracy increased to 84.6% for H. neanderthalensis, and 57.1% of Upper Paleolithic H. sapiens were classified correctly by using the first 4 PCs (70.3%). We conclude that caution is warranted when assigning isolated dm1 crowns to taxa; while an assignment to H. neanderthalensis has a high probability of being correct, assignment to Upper Paleolithic H. sapiens is less certain.
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Affiliation(s)
- S E Bailey
- Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, USA; Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - R Sorrentino
- Department of Biological Geological and Environmental Sciences - BiGeA, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - G Mancuso
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - J-J Hublin
- Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany; Collège de France, 70005, Paris, France
| | - S Benazzi
- Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
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16
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Evaluation of Antegonial Angle and Antegonial Depth to Estimate Sex in a Prepubertal Turkish Population. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2020; 41:194-198. [DOI: 10.1097/paf.0000000000000579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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17
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Morphometric analysis of the hominin talus: Evolutionary and functional implications. J Hum Evol 2020; 142:102747. [PMID: 32240884 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2020.102747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The adoption of bipedalism is a key benchmark in human evolution that has impacted talar morphology. Here, we investigate talar morphological variability in extinct and extant hominins using a 3D geometric morphometric approach. The evolutionary timing and appearance of modern human-like features and their contributions to bipedal locomotion were evaluated on the talus as a whole, each articular facet separately, and multiple combinations of facets. Distinctive suites of features are consistently present in all fossil hominins, despite the presence of substantial interspecific variation, suggesting a potential connection of these suites to bipedal gait. A modern human-like condition evolved in navicular and lateral malleolar facets early in the hominin lineage compared with other facets, which demonstrate more complex morphological variation within Homininae. Interestingly, navicular facet morphology of Australopithecus afarensis is derived in the direction of Homo, whereas more recent hominin species such as Australopithecus africanus and Australopithecus sediba retain more primitive states in this facet. Combining the navicular facet with the trochlea and the posterior calcaneal facet as a functional suite, however, distinguishes Australopithecus from Homo in that the medial longitudinal arch had not fully developed in the former. Our results suggest that a more everted foot and stiffer medial midtarsal region are adaptations that coincide with the emergence of bipedalism, whereas a high medial longitudinal arch emerges later in time, within Homo. This study provides novel insights into the emergence of talar morphological traits linked to bipedalism and its transition from a facultative to an obligate condition.
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18
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Kobayashi T, Suzuki D, Kondo Y, Tokita R, Katayose M, Matsumura H, Fujimiya M. Morphological characteristics of the lateral ankle ligament complex. Surg Radiol Anat 2020; 42:1153-1159. [PMID: 32227271 DOI: 10.1007/s00276-020-02461-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The relevance of each ligament comprising the lateral ankle ligament complex, including the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL), calcaneofibular ligament (CFL), and posterior talofibular ligament (PTFL), has not been sufficiently elucidated; therefore, we aimed to clarify the morphological characteristics and relevance of these ligaments. METHODS Total 152 legs from 152 Japanese cadavers were investigated. The lengths and widths of the ATFL, CFL, and PTFL were measured using a caliper. The ATFL was classified according to the number of fiber bundles (Types I, II, and III corresponded to one, two, and three fiber bundles, respectively), and the lengths and widths of the three ligaments were compared between the Type groups. In addition, the ratio of each ligament's length and width to the tibial length was calculated, and the correlation of the ratio of ligament length and width between the ATFL, CFL, and PTFL was examined about 34 legs. RESULTS The ATFL, CFL, and PTFL were found to connect at the anterior/inferior tip of the lateral malleolus each other. The Type II group of the ATFL was most common (54.6%) in our investigated specimens. However, there were no significant inter-group differences in the lengths and widths of the CFL and PTFL. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that the lateral ankle ligaments may stabilize the ankle joint through interconnections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takumi Kobayashi
- Department of Rehabilitation, Hokkaido Chitose College of Rehabilitation, Chitose, Japan.
| | - Daisuke Suzuki
- Department of Rehabilitation, Hokkaido Chitose College of Rehabilitation, Chitose, Japan
| | - Yu Kondo
- Department of Rehabilitation, Sapporo Maruyama Orthopaedic Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Ryo Tokita
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Masaki Katayose
- Department of Physical Therapy, Sapporo Medical University, School of Health Science, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Matsumura
- Department of Physical Therapy, Sapporo Medical University, School of Health Science, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Mineko Fujimiya
- Department of Anatomy, Sapporo Medical University of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
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