The Zagreb Skull Collection—The unique identified collection of human skulls from fetuses to centenarians

Skull anatomy and development have been extensively studied due to their significance in evolutionary biology, forensic anthropology, and clinical medicine. Bone collections are an indispensable resource for conducting such anthropological and anatomical studies. However, worldwide there are only few skull collections containing specimens covering the entire fetal and postnatal period. Herein we describe the Zagreb Skull Collection, an identified collection comprising more than 1100 skulls and skull bone sets from the early fetal period to centenarians. The Zagreb Skull Collection consists of two main parts: the unique Collection of Skull Bones containing 386 sets of separated skull bones from the early fetal period to adulthood and the Collection of Skulls containing 742 skulls (age range 4–101 years). The collection was the core source for numerous anatomical studies on the development, postnatal changes, and anatomical variations of the skull. However, the Zagreb Skull Collection is still an underexploited resource for anthropological, forensic, and anatomical studies with translatability to contemporary clinical practice.     

Comparison of radiologic and gross examination for detection of cancer in defleshed skeletons

The reliability of visual examination of defleshed bones was assessed for detection of postcranial metastatic disease in individuals known to have had cancer. This was compared with standard clinical radiologic techniques. The skeletons of 128 diagnosed cancer patients from an early 20th century autopsied skeletal collection (Hamann-Todd Collection) were examined. Radiologic examination detected evidence of metastatic disease in 33 individuals, compared to 11 by visual examination of the postcranial skeletons. Four of these cases were detected by both techniques. Blastic lesions were most commonly overlooked on visual examination, because they were localized to trabecular (internal bone) structures. The ilium was the most commonly affected bone, with lytic or blastic lesions detected in 30 of 33 individuals. While the proximal femur was affected in only nine individuals, x-ray of the proximal femur and ilium detected all individuals with postcranial evidence of metastatic disease. Skeletal distribution of metastases provides no clue to the location of origin or histologic subtype of the cancer. Survey of archeological human remains for metastatic cancer requires radiologic examination. Such skeletal surveys should x-ray at least the ilia and femora. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Sex determination of fragmentary crania by analysis of the cranial base

The cranial base can be used to determine the sex of fragmentary or deformed skulls. An initial study used nine measurements taken from 100 crania in the Terry Collection. The sample was divided equally by race and sex. Six regression models were formulated that predicted correctly the sex of the sample with 71-90% accuracy. In a separate test, a control sample of 20 skulls, also drawn from the Terry Collection but not involved with formulating the regression equations, was correctly classified with 70-85% accuracy.     

The elusive petroexoccipital articulation

In the present study, 1,869 skulls from the Hamann-Todd Collection were examined (macroscopically and by radiographs) for closure of the petroexoccipital articulation (jugular synchondrosis). The results demonstrated that the petroexoccipital articulation underwent closure between 20 and 50 years of age in most of the human skulls evaluated. Approximately 7–10% of the human skulls underwent complete union of the petroexoccipital articulation before 20 years of age. In 5–9% of the population, the joint remained completely open. After 50 years of age, there was no increase in the frequency of individuals with complete closure. The frequency of “partial closure” was similar (4–8%) for all age groups (20–25, 30–35, 40–45, 50–55, 60–65, and 70+), excluding the 30–35 year old group (17.5%). The time interval necessary for closure to occur appeared to be very short. No significant differences in closure rates due to ethnic origin, gender, or laterality were noted. The utility of the petroexoccipital articulation as an age estimator is discussed. Am J Phys Anthropol 103:365–373, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

山西保德印度熊一新种

记述了印度熊一新种,Indarctos zdanskyi。正型标本是保存在一起的相当完好的头骨、下颌和寰椎,采白山西保德赵家沟的三趾马红土层中。新种以个体大,头骨矢状嵴高耸,乳突特别粗大并向外伸展,外耳道很细长,内鼻孔特别窄长,下颌联合后缘接近p4,颊齿相对较小,前臼齿高度退化,P4长于M1,m1前窄后宽,而m2前宽后窄而区别于本属已知各种。     

The history and composition of the Raymond A. Dart Collection of Human Skeletons at the University of the Witwatersrand,Johannesburg, South Africa

The Raymond A. Dart Collection of Human Skeletons (Dart Collection) is housed in the School of Anatomical Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, and comprises one of the largest documented cadaver‐derived human skeletal assemblages in the world. This collection originated in the early 1920s as a result of the efforts of Raymond Dart and continues to grow. The skeletons included represent varied indigenous and immigrant populations from southern Africa, Europe and Asia. This contribution documents the history of the collection and provides an updated inventory and demographic assessment of this valuable research collection. According to a recent inventory the Dart Collection currently comprises 2,605 skeletons representing individuals from regional SA African (76%), White (15%), Coloured (4%) and Indian (0.3%) populations. A large proportion of the skeletons (71%) represent males. The recorded ages at death range from the first year to over 100 years of age, but the majority of individuals died between the ages of 20 and 70. The Dart Collection has been affected by collection procedures based on availability. All of the cadavers collected before 1958, and large proportions subsequently, were derived from unclaimed bodies in regional South African hospitals. Some details of documentation (age at death, population group) are estimates and some aspects of the collection demographics (sex ratios) do not closely reflect any living South African population. Our inventory and analysis of the Dart Collection is aimed to assist researchers planning research on the materials from this collection. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

临夏盆地晚中新世维氏大唇犀(奇蹄目,犀科)肢骨化石(英文)

大唇犀 (Chilotherium属 )是中国晚中新世三趾马动物群中占统治地位的类型 ,在亚洲的其他地区和南欧也有广泛的分布。然而 ,有关大唇犀头后骨骼的记述相当少。在山西保德和陕西府谷已经发现了丰富的大唇犀化石 ,但到目前为止仅有安氏大唇犀 (Ch .anderssoni)的少量头后骨骼被记述。维氏大唇犀 (Ch .wimani)最早发现于陕西府谷 ,被记述的材料仅包括头骨标本。最近我们在甘肃临夏盆地发现了大量晚中新世的Ch .wimani化石 ,其中不仅有众多的头骨 ,头后骨骼也相当丰富。本文研究的标本采自临夏盆地内众多的晚中新世三趾马动物群化石地点 ,包括和政县的大深沟、南阳山、大山庄、禾托和高家山 ,广河县的后山、兰家山、山庄、寺沟、次滩、沙地沟、阳洼铺子和桥家 ,以及东乡县的双拱北等。在保德的三趾马动物群中 ,大唇犀以Ch .anderssoni和哈氏大唇犀 (Ch .habereri)为代表 ,而在临夏和府谷却是以Ch .wimani为代表。临夏盆地的三趾马动物群中共有 3种无角犀类 ,即Ch .wimani,Acerorhinuscornutus和A .hezhengensis。根据头骨材料的统计 ,Ch .wimani在犀类中占有绝对优势 ,A .hezhengensis和A .cornutus的个体数量很少。与此对应 ,动物群中的无角犀类肢骨明显可以分为 3组 ,其中具中等尺寸的一组占有绝对优势。?     

The influence of age,sex, population group,and dentition on the mandibular angle as measured on a South African sample

The mandibular angle is measured in physical anthropological assessments of human remains to possibly assist with the determination of sex and population affinity. The purpose of this investigation was to establish how the mandibular angle changes with age and loss of teeth among the sexes in South African population groups. The angles of 653 dried adult mandibles from the Pretoria Bone Collection were measured with a mandibulometer. Males and females of both South African whites and blacks were included. To compensate for imbalances in numbers among subgroups, type IV ANOVA testing was applied. No association was found between age and angle within either of the populations, within sexes, or within dentition groups. The angle was the most obtuse in individuals without molars and with an uneven distribution of molars, and most acute in the group with an even distribution of molars on both sides. Statistically significant differences (P < 0.001) were found in the angle between the two population groups and sexes in the overall sample as well as in the subgroup with absent molar teeth (P = 0.003 for sex, males more acute angle, and P = 0.001 for population group, blacks more acute angle), although a very large overlap existed. No significant differences could be demonstrated between the sexes or populations within the subgroups with molars. We concluded that the loss of molars, especially if complete or uneven, has a considerable effect on the mandibular angle. In the assessment of human remains, the mandibular angle is not very usable in determining sex. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

太原地区现代人头骨的研究

本文报告了太原地区男、女组现代人头骨测量性状的基本统计量和非测量性状的出现情况,记述和讨论了它们的两侧差异和性别差异情况,建立了以多个项目测量值鉴定华北人头骨性别的判别函数。     

Instruments for transnasal brain removal during embalming by the ancient Egyptians

From the Mook—Collection in Munich 81 skulls and 7 complete heads of mummies found around Thebes and Abydos and dating from 1500–1000 BC were examined by fiberendoscope and operation microscope. Especially the nasal cavities and the ethmoidal perforations were studied through which the ancient moidal perforations were studied through which the ancient Egyptian embalmers removed the brain in the process of mummification. In many skulls these ethmoidal perforations had been nicely and meticulously prepared and we called in question whether this could be achieved merely by means of a metal hook as been described by Herodotus. We saw four different sites of the artificial foramina in the ethmoid. 22 perforations were symmetrically located in the ethmoid, 12 predominantly in the right ethmoid, 49 prediminantly in the left ethmoid and 5 perforations in the sphenoid. We present a new concept about the transnasal approach to the cranium, based on experiments in fresh cadavers in which we were able to remove the brain through the nostril by means of a simple rod of bamboo partially wrapped with moistened linen bandages. This technique of brain removal could during the process of mummification.     

A treasure house of comparative embryology

The Embryo Collection of the Hubrecht Laboratory is a treasure house of comparative embryology. It is the largest and most important collection of its kind in the world, and consists of thousands of vertebrate embryos stored in alcohol, or prepared as histological sections. Many elusive species are included in the collection, some represented by complete developmental series. The accompanying archives offer a remarkable insight into the methods used to collect embryos form wild animals, as well as the motives behind the founders of the collection. Carefully maintained, documented and catalogued, the collection is available for study by all interested scientists. We argue that this collection is one of the greatest biodiversity resources in existence.     

LYSTROSAURS OF XINJIANG, CHINA

<正> Since the first report on Chinese lystrosaurs made by Yuan and Young in 1934, abundant material has been collected from the Early Triassic of Jiuchaiyuan Formation of Jimusar (Fuyuan), Junggar basin and Taoshuyuan, Turpan basin. Up to now 7 species of Lystrosaurus——L. broomi, L. hedini, L. weidcnreichi, L. youngi, L. robustus, L. latifrons and L. shichanggouensis, have been erected in China. All the species were described based on almost complete skulls, except L. weidenreichi, which was on some materials of postcranial skeleton. It was thought generally that L. broomi and L. youngi are closely related to the South African L. murrayi and L. curvatus respectively. Furthermore, the two Chinese species were considered as synonymous with their counterparts of South Africa by Colbert in 1974, when he revised this genus. The characters of the Chinese lystrosaurs, however, appeared to give no support to Colbert's suggestion. A comprehensive study of the Chinese lystrosaurs based on the type specimens and the additional materials, and the revised diagnoses. for 4 species are given in the present paper.     

Intraspecific variability and sexual dimorphism in the skulls ofPan troglodytes verus

A collection of skulls ofPan troglodytes verus from Liberia was analysed according to specific characters of morphology and sexual dimorphism based on osteological data. Morphologic characters of both sexes are described somewhat in detail. Measurements were taken. Morphometric data show a high range of intraspecific variability within our collection. It shows that the mean metric divergence between both sexes is rather slight, skulls of males in our sample are on the average 3.7% larger than those of females.     

The incidence of basal sphenoid bony bridges in dried crania and cadavers: their anthropological and clinical relevance

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of the pterygospinous and pterygoalar bony bridges and the variations in these bony bridges among Anatolians. A total of 452 adult dry skulls (258 males and 194 females) of the Anatolian population were investigated for both the pterygospinous and the pterygoalar bony bridges. In 80 of the 452 dry skulls (37 male and 43 female), it was possible to inspect the cranial cavity. In these skulls, sellar and sphenopetrous bridges were also investigated. In addition to this, the mandibular nerve of 9 fixed cadavers was carefully dissected and the distribution of its branches was determined on both sides. Complete pterygospinous osseous bridges were found in 5.5% of the samples and complete pterygoalar bridges in 4.9%. In the dry skulls with removed calvaria, complete sellar osseous bridges were found on both sides in 34.2% of specimens, complete pterygospinous bridges in 8.8% and complete pterygoalar bridges in 7.5%. No complete sphenopetrous bridges were found. In the cadaveric study, nerve entrapment due to a pterygoalar ligament on the left side was found in one cadaver. Such variations should be kept in mind in clinical complaints such as mandibular neuralgia, especially during chewing.