Showing papers on "Skull published in 1973"

Age factor and the pattern of change in craniofacial structures

Abstract: Today special emphasis is being placed upon the understanding of human aging and this study is an attempt to shed light on the craniofacial complex during the later years. Postcranial skeletal alteration is clear and it is now evident that cranial and facial structures are no exception to the aging process. The longitudinal information presented here indicates continuing overall growth from early adulthood to later life. The cranium thickens and the skull diameter increases. Endocranial dimensions enlarge as well. This suggests larger overall skull size and expansion of the cranial cavity. The visceral cranial structures also participate in the continuing growth process. Enlargement in all areas seems to be of similar magnitude except for skull thickness, sella turcica, and frontal sinus. The size increase in these three structures is greater than in other segments examined. In essence, the craniofacial complex is in a state of growth throughout life. The entire system is involved in a process of symmetrical enlargement.

Asymmetry in Gorilla Skulls: Evidence of Lateralized Brain Function?

Abstract: ASYMMETRY in mammalian skulls is a rare phenomenon. Differential tusk usage in elephants may result in slight skull asymmetry1, and the Odontoceti (toothed whales) invariably show marked skull asymmetry caused by suppression of the nasal passage on one side. This is carried to an extreme in the Narwhal, in which a long tusk is almost always developed on the left side only.

Skull of Hesperornis and Early Evolution of Birds

Abstract: Additional preparation of a specimen found a century ago permits complete reconstruction of the skull of the Cretaceous bird Hesperornis. This skull provides new evidence on the evolution of the avian palate and the origin of avian cranial kinesis, and further substantiates the evolution of birds from theropod dinosaurs.

The maxillary artery: normal arteriographic anatomy.

Abstract: The branches of the terminal portion of the maxillary artery emanate from the pterygopalatine fossa through bony foramina or fissures to supply the deep facial structures. The radiographic anatomy of the fossa and its openings are reviewed. The normal vascular anatomy is defined and correlated with postmortem injections and a dried skull model.The consistent arteriographic distribution of these vessels is determined by their relationship to the facial skeleton. These branches conform to the bony partitions of several important facial compartments, namely, the maxillary antrum, nasal cavity, and pterygopalatine fossa. Changes in topography may indicate pathologic alterations in these boundaries.

An unusual osteolytic lesion of the skull due to a traumatic arachnoid cyst.

Abstract: This is a case report of a unique osteolytic lesion of the skull. Following a workup for convulsive seizures, a circumscribed osteolytic lesion of the left occipital bone was found by X-ray. Surgical exploration revealed an arachnoid cyst eroding the skull. A history of head injury to the left occiput two years previously was obtained. There was no fracture.

Redescription of the skull and mandible of Parksosaurus from the Late Cretaceous, with comments on the family Hypsilophodontidae (Ornithischia) /

Abstract: The head skeleton of Parksosaurus is more similar to that of Hypsilophodon from the Lower Cretaceous of England than to those of Dryosaurus and Dysalotosaurus, two closely related genera of hypsilophodontids from the Upper Jurassic. The shallowness of the lower temporal bar is a primitive feature of the skull of Parksosaurus', specialized features include the form of the teeth, the small size of the antorbital fenestra, and the anteroposterior expansion of the posterodorsal end of the jugal. The presence of foramina for replacement teeth in several lower ornithopods represents a preadaptation for the formation of high alveolar walls necessary for the development of dental batteries in hadrosaurs and ceratopsians. The only other known hypsilophodont reported from the Late Cretaceous of the world is from British Columbia; it may represent a new species of Hypsilophodon.

Thanatophoric dwarfism and cloverleaf skull ("kleeblattschädel").

Abstract: Four cases of thanatophoric dwarfism are presented, including 2 with an associated cloverleaf skull deformity (“kleeblattschadel”). Both entities are radiologically distinct. Distinguishing features of thanatophoric dwarfism include a narrow thorax and extremely short ribs, flat vertebral bodies, and an inverted “U” appearance of the spine on the frontal view. The skull may be enlarged or normal. The genetic implications of thanatophoric dwarfism and its relationship to cloverleaf skull deformity are unknown.

Stress analysis on the facial skeleton of gorilla by means of the wire strain gauge method

Abstract: Simulation of the biting action of the gorilla was made by using a macerated skull of the gorilla. Strains in the facial skeleton produced by this simulation were measured by the wire strain gauge. Some stress analyses were made from these strains and were compared with those of the human facial skeleton. The strains in the facial skeleton of the gorilla indicate fundamentally the same deformation during biting action as do those of the human facial skeleton, but differences between both facial skeletons also appear. Generally the force of the temporalis tends to strain the facial skeleton more compressively while the force of the masseter does so more tensilely. They produce qualitatively the same but quantitatively different strains or stresses.

Dental patient simulator

Abstract: The patient simulator provides a skull with a mandible and maxilla relatively arranged and supported for movement simulating that of a human mandible and maxilla, and having a skin covering with the natural appearance and "feel" of the human skin. The simulator additionally includes a resilient tongue, and soft palate or velum which with the skin covering defines the mouth cavity. With practice dentures releasably secured to the mandible and maxilla the dental student can practice on various tooth conditions under substantially normal working conditions.

Cranial Anatomy of Oreopithecus

Abstract: Reexamination of the 1958 skull of the late Miocene Oreopithecus bambolii revealed a cranial anatomy different from that widely accepted for this taxon. There is a sagittal crest, a high nuchal crest, a large gonial angle, and α high, rather vertical, occiput. This catarrhine was not a very large brained primate compared to known advanced hominoids.

Normal variations in size and neoplastic changes of skull foramina.

Abstract: Operability of head and neck cancers is usually limited by extension to the base of the skull. Intracranial extension occurs by tumor growth along the perineurium of cranial nerves and along blood vessels or by direct bone erosion. Skull involvement usually is determined by radiologic evidence of destruction or enlargement of skull foramina. Of particular importance to the head and neck surgeon are those foramina that serve as possible conduits for intracranial extension of cancers of the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses, nasopharynx, palate, and face. Not infrequently disparity in size from the contralateral foramina, or absence of a particular foramina, will be interpreted as substantial evidence of intracranial tumor extension. The purpose of this study was to determine within individuals the normal diameter variations between pairs of the foramen ovale, foramen rotundum, pterygoid canal, and infraorbital canal. One hundred fifty tomograms of the anterior skull area were studied and classified into tumor and non-tumor groups. The frequency of nonvisualization and the range of normal size of each foramina were recorded.

A New Cranial Suture Appearing in the Site of Craniectomy for Synostosis

Abstract: The formation of a radiologically normal suture following craniectomy for congenital craniosynostosis is described. In the cases discussed, craniectomy consisted of removal of a strip of skull bone 1 cm wide to separate the congenitally fused membranous bones of the skull. Polyethylene film is wrapped around the bone edges to retard sealing of the surgical defect by new bone growth. In 1966, a suture radiographically identical to a normal suture was seen on a follow-up study. Since that time 26 such cases have been described. A discussion of the mechanisms of suture formation is presented.

A radiographic study of age changes in the skull, mandible and teeth of pigs

Abstract: Radiographs were taken, of the medially sectioned half heads and flesh-free mandibles of 32 pigs serially slaughtered between birth and 120 kg live weight. From these radiographs, measurements were taken of the length of the skull, the depth of the cranium, the length and depth of the brain cavity, and five separate measurements of the mandible. Observations were made of the changes in configuration of the skull as a whole including sinuses. The patterns of development and eruption of the deciduous and permanent teeth were examined. It is suggested that the elongation of the mandible and the maxilla necessary to accommodate the full permanent dentition, together with the increasing size of the frontal sinuses, has an important influence on the shape of the skull as a whole. The results are discussed in relation to other published descriptions of the chronological development of the teeth.

A new species of dicynodon from sinkiang

Abstract: A second Permian dicynodont was recognized in the recently prepared material of Yuan's collection from Sinkiang.It is a skull preserved in a greyish green concretion,but unfortunately its locality and horizon are not clear.The skull is quite different from the first one described by Young as Dicynodon sinkianensis. It represents a new species of this genus,named as Dicynodon tienshanensis. The new species is a dicynodont of rather small size.The skull is characterized by its ellipsoid dorsal outline,large anteriorly located orbits and comparatively broad snout.Maxillary process is moderately developed but with no tusk.The width of the intertemporal region is equal to that of the interorbital,and with a low parietal ridge formed by the contacted postorbitals.Postfrontals are present and rather large. Preparietal is also large with a rough surface. The ventral side of the skull is distinguished by the large interpterygoid fossa and the long and narrow interpterygoid foramen.The palatine forms a nodule at the an- terior end which projects inside and narrows the anterior end of the internal nares. A small boss projects at the inner posterior side of the maxillary process.This boss together with the palatinal nodule undertakes the function as the pressure surface of the outer and inner“dental ridges”of the lower jaw(Fig.3). The side wall of the braincase is incomplete,with large gaps existing between prootic and epipterygoid,and between the latter and the upward process of paras- phenoid.Parietals are not deepened,but infering from the two sections of the epip- terygoid,perhaps the upper one represents the downward process of the parietal. The occipital plate is comparatively flattened,with large foramen magnum and round posttemporal fenestra.Large notochordal pit exists on the center of the occi- pital condyle.No articular surface of proatlas is observed. The“dental ridges”and grooves on the dorsal side of the lower jaw are very prominent.Between the two inner ridges,a deep and wide groove receives the op- posite median ridge on the upper palate.The dentary occupies a greater portion on the whole lower jaw.The mandibular foramen is situated rather downwards and posteriorly. The primitive characters on this skull are evident:the developed ectopterygoid, the maxillary separation of palate and premaxillary,no infraorbital foramen,large interpterygoid fossa and long interpterygoid foramen,the absence of parietal deepening, and incomplete braincase.All these features point out that this skull may represent a typical member of the genus Dicynodon.But it could be distinguished from all other species in possessing a combination of the following characters:the skull is long and narrow with a proportion of width to length about 63 percent only;temporal openings are a little larger than the orbits;intertemporal width is equal to that of interorbital;and parietals are largely covered by postorbitals and restricted behind the pineal opening.From the outline of the skull,its nearest species is Dicynodon venteri,however,our species is more narrow in the skull breadth and the parietals are not stretched anterior of the pineal opening.From the ventral side of the skull, the structure resembles closely to that of Dicynodon grimbeeki in having a large ectopterygoid and a narrowed anterior end of choana.But in our specimen,the nar- rowing is due to the squeezing of palate instead of by the maxillary in the latter species.Besides,the interpterygoid foramen is much longer in our species. The diagnosis of this species may be summarized as follows: Dicynodont of moderate size,the width of interorbital same to that of intertem- poral;parietal crest low,parietals almost covered by postorbitals,preparietal large; postfrontal present,anterior end of internal nares narrowed by the inside projection of palatal nodule,narrow participation of premaxillary and maxillary to the margin of choana,median ridge of vomer short;interpterygoid foramen long,inner“dental ridge”developed.

Paleoneurosurgery in Colombia

Abstract: ✓ For the first time, cranial operations performed by representatives of primitive cultures in Colombia are documented by the discovery of three skulls from the era of the Chibcha civilizations of about 350 A.D., found in different regions of Colombia. Each skull had a surgical defect in the parietal bone.

Repair of skull defects with autogenous bone

Abstract: Twenty-two major skull reconstructions were done using autogenous rib or iliac bone. When bone from the rib was used, it was split and wired in place over a bony lip formed at the edge of the defect. Iliac crest was fitted as a keystone in an arch and fastened with wire. Functional results were perfect in all but two cases, and aesthetic results excellent in all but two. In each case, the unsatisfactory results were directly due to inattention to operative detail. There were no losses of grafts, and no significant infections. Autogenous bone to reconstruct the calvarium gives excellent aesthetic and functional results when the technique described is followed.

Forty-five Northern Irish families: a cephalometric radiographic study.

Abstract: The individual bones that are identifiable from lateral skull radiographs have been analysed for the parents and growing children of 45 families. There were at least four children in each family and altogether there were 95 sons and 102 daughters. The youngest child was not less than seven years of age. Traced outlines were made of the bones and 24 linear and angular measurements were made; the raw data were transformed into scores to overcome differences due to age and sex. Analyses of variance of within and between families showed that for all the variables, the scores for persons in different families were significantly less similar, (P< 0.001), than scores to be found within families. Correlations were then computed for each variable between the mothers and fathers, the mothers and sons, the mothers and daughters, the fathers and sons, the fathers and daughters, brothers and sisters, paired brothers and paired sisters. It was found that there were no statistically significant correlations between the mothers and fathers, but for all the other combinations that were examined there were many correlations significant at a 0.1% and 1.0% level. Children of the same family look like their parents and resemble each other in many different ways, but they are usually distinctly different from the children and parents of unrelated families as figures 1 and 2 clearly demonstrate (omitted). These photographs reveal many familial characteristics and suggest that genetic influences are very important factors; though the effects of similar environments within a given family cannot be dismissed, they are likely to be of secondary importance. The similarities that are recognisable from these photographs or from observations of any family are those of head shape, hair pattern, likenesses around the eyes, the mouth or chin, and more obvious features like the shape of the nose or ears. These and many other aspects are the basis for the common observation that one child is more like his mother, his father or a mixture of both; but it is equally well known that the similarities that are recognisable one year have often disappeared by the next, when other likenesses may be recognisable. Rarely are the observers in total agreement as these observations are essentially subjective. Do the same kind of similarities known for so many of the superficial characteristics of the head also exist for the separate bones of the skull? Are they more under genetic than environmental influences?

An anatomical skull for impact testing

Abstract: Progress is described on the development of a trauma-indicating headform for assessment of localized and superficial head injury hazards. Using as a basis the facial and parietal bone impact tolerance values obtained in collaboration with Nahum, an anatomically shaped skull has been developed in which particular attention has been given to achieving humanlike fracture tolerances in the zygomatic and frontal regions.

The identification of Polynesian head hair.

Abstract: The major genetic population, or race, of most skeletal remains can be determined by an experienced forensic physical anthropologist if the skull is relatively intact [1,2]. However, if the skull is missing or seriously damaged, the determination of race is much more difficult or impossible. Even if the skull is intact, racial determination may be a problem if the individual was of mixed genetic origin [3].

Plain skull roentgenographic findings in infants and children with convulsions.

Abstract: Of 234 children with seizures, 12.8% had abnormal skull roentgenograms. Microcephaly was the most common abnormality (10%); there were two cases of positional molding, and single cases of unilateral cerebral atrophy, sagittal synostosis, split sutures, arrested hydrocephalus, and falx calcification comprised the remainder. Microcephaly was unsuspected in seven patients. Radiologic findings positively affected management in only one other patient. The value of negative information is difficult to assess, but this study suggests that convulsions alone do not constitute a valid indication for skull roentgenograms.

More on Primate Skull Collections in European Museums

Abstract: within and outside the state. In both these cases and in others, the Government sought to supplant incumbents who allegedly belonged to the "wrong" party, opposed party stalwarts, or obstructed the smooth working of Government institutions and organizations. This pattern was not unique to the new state. In the parent Western State, the salary of an Oba (king) was once reduced to a penny a year for "insubordination," and it was reported that "in the House of Chiefs, whose total membership is fifty-two, there is now only one member who is not a supporter of the Action Group-the example of one great chief, the Alafin of Oyo, who was deposed in 1956 could not be forgotten by any Chief in the Region" (Report of the Minorities Commission, August 1958). This tendency for the Government to have its way had its roots in the British indirect-rule system, under which a Native Authority or a member of a Native Authority, traditional king/chief or not, could be removed from office if he was found inefficient or uncompromising by the British administrators. A king or chief thus deposed ceased to be a king or chief (C.S.O. 26/2.17005, vol. 111, Letter WP. 17005/397). Under British rule, kings and chiefs had learned to serve the Government faithfully and unremittingly or face summary dismissal. The Government's manipulation of the chieftaincy/kingship institution was the more effective because of the economic and educational background of the kings and chiefs. Only a few of the members of the House of Chiefs had any other real means of earning a living, and only 10 had reached the secondary-school level of education. Having no place to turn for money to maintain their social status, the kings and chiefs appreciated that they had to remain in Parliament, and that to do so they had to support the Government of the day. At the same time as it manipulated the traditional political system to consolidate its position, the Government sought to win sympathy and public involvement in its programmes through visible public improvements-roads, buildings, bridges, schools, cinemas, water supply, hospitals, markets, and so on-within the limits of its meagre annual budgets. To the same end, efforts were made to incorporate traditional local leaders into the party's organization. Local party leaders introduced family heads or chiefs/kings to party members in Parliament, thus opening the way for patronage which could bind the people to their representative. Politicians respected the traditional leaders more or less in the expectation that the latter would influence their kinsmen or townsmen to support them and their party. The theory was that a Government incorporating and favouring, or at least appearing to favour, the indigenous social systems to which the majority of the people were still attached was the most acceptable one. Through the use of the Declaration, the Government encouraged traditional leaders to activate the indigenous political systems and induced politicians to seek traditional chieftaincy titles so as to reinforce their positions. The interdependence of Government and the traditional system suggested here cannot, however, be regarded as involving any kind of parity between the two. In practice, the traditional system was virtually powerless. Forde (1967:403) has observed that in contemporary African societies, "the 'present' still encapsulates deeply held values generated in the 'past."' The social anthropologist, he says, "does not see new modes of regulation and vehicles of authority only as a blueprint for a new world, but as expressions of new forces operating on an existing society through which policy makers, both internal as well as external to it, are providing new means which will be put to old as well as new uses." Bailey (1969:144-85) has recently expanded the concept of encapsulation, discussing the sociocultural interaction between "encapsulating" and "encapsulated" societies. Vincent (1969:59) has stressed that there are "continuities both of process and, in part, of content, suggesting the relevance of pre-state forms of organization to the political development of modernizing nations." The Midwestern State of Nigeria, with the various indigenous sociocultural systems it encapsulates, can be seen as demonstrating these features. The kind of data and analysis presented here underlines the theoretical point recently made by Cohen (I1969:231 )that "the anthropologist who' studies small groups within the contemporary state . . . must deliberately formulate his problems in such a way as to make reference to the state a necessary part of his analysis." This viewpoint should be the very essence of current anthropology.

Fracture of temporal bone, early or retrospective diagnosis, and surgical hearing reconstruction.

Abstract: Among the victims of acute skull trauma, temporal bone fracture is found in 6–8 %. An early diagnosis emerges from clinical inspection, X-ray exposure and is strongly supported by otoscopy. The otologist is concerned about the facial nerve immediately after the fracture and to detect signs of defects which call for decompression. The destiny of hearing is due either to cochlear damage or alterations in the ossicular mechanism. Conductive hearing loss possibly resulting from previous skull trauma may benefit from surgical intervention in the tympanic cavity.