Morphology of the pubis and preauricular area in relation to parity and age at death in Macaca mulatta

Some adult human females show bone resorption (pitting) at the dorsal aspect of the pubis and preauricular area of the ilium. The etiology of pelvic bone resorption is attributed alternatively to reproduction and to pelvic anatomy. While most researchers infer that pelvic pitting is related to reproduction, only a few studies are based on women of known parity. Degree of pubic resorption is directly associated with both parity (Suchey et al.: Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 51:517-539, 1979; Bergfelder and Hermann: J. Hum. Evol. 9:611-613, 1980) and age (Suchey et al.: Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 51:517-539, 1979). The relationship between parity and degree of resorption of the preauricular area is equivocal, found to be significant by Dunlap (A Study of the Preauricular Sulcus in a Cadaver Population, Ph.D. dissertation, East Lansing, Michigan State University, 1981) but not by Spring et al. (Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 79:247-252, 1989); both studies report that age is not associated with resorption of the preauricular area. Other mammals evidence public resorption, but the morphology of the preauricular area is less well known. This study addresses the issue on the etiology of pelvic bone resorption using a sample of Macaca mulatta (the free-ranging population from Cayo Santiago) for which parity and age at death are known for all specimens. The following results are reported. Resorption of the pubis is common among females but infrequent among males. Contrary to Rawlins (Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 42:477-488, 1975), the degree of pubic resorption in female macaques is significantly related to both parity and age at death.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The radiographic preauricular groove: its non-relationship to past parity

Deep preauricular sulci were identified on abdominal radiographs in 29 of 190 (15%) adult females and in none of 110 adult males. To assess the value of the deep preauricular sulcus as an index of past pregnancy, we examined gravidity and parity records of 190 women, using standard films that included the sacroiliac region. Deep, radiographic preauricular grooves were identified in 4 of 41 (10%) nulliparous women and in 25 of 149 (17%) women with positive pregnancy histories. We also examined radiographs obtained before and after pregnancy in six primigravidas. No evidence of radiographic changes in the preauricular grooves was seen in any of the six women. We conclude that the presence of a deep, radiographic preauricular sulcus is not necessarily an indication of past pregnancy.     

Bone resorption of the pubis and preauricular area in humans and nonhuman mammals

Some innominates of adult human females show areas of bone resorption on the dorsal aspect of the pubic corpus and preauricular area of the ilium. For both sites, many studies have shown a positive association between degree of resorption and parity. The present study tested hypotheses concerning resorption of the pubis and preauricular area. Samples of innominates from three prehistoric Amerindian populations were used. Within each population, only a minority of females, in general, showed resorption more severe than that which characterized males. The severity of resorption of the pubis was not significantly associated with that of the preauricular area. Pitting of the pubis, but not of the preauricular area, was significantly correlated with age-at-death in each sample of Amerindian females. Also, sacral angulation was not significantly associated with resorption of the preauricular area. Observations on resorption of the pubis and preauricular area in samples of Pan troglodytes and Gorilla gorilla are reported. In previous studies on resorption of the pubis and preauricular area in the human innominate, the proposed etiologies involve ligamentous hyperplasia and joint trauma. However, a number of studies on resorption of the pubis in the nonhuman mammalian innominate have been overlooked by anthropologists. These latter studies demonstrate that estrogen alone can induce resorption of the mammalian pubis by stimulating the synthesis of osteoclastic enzymes. Partial resorption of the pubis may be obstetrically advantageous in some mammals, as resorption would delay or inhibit synostosis of the interpubic joint. The relationship between estrogen and the preauricular area is an issue that requires further research.     

Parturition and pelvic changes

A detailed analysis of the female bony pelvis in relation to parity status was made. A total of 198 complete pelves were inspected for five features considered to be associated with pregnancy and parturition. During final analysis two features were eliminated. Three remaining features - dorsal pubic pitting, pre-auricular grooves, and grooves located at the site of interosseous ligament insertion were found to be significantly related to partirution. Other findings of interest were: (1) pits and grooves acquired through pregnancy and parturition appear to become obliterated in old age, (2) the preauricular groove is the most sensitive indicator of pregnancy and parturition, (3) moderate-large pitting in the dorsal pubic region rarely occurs in nulliparous females, and (4) it is doubtful that more precise statements than "no children" and "one or more children" can be made on the basis of skeletal remains alone.     

Analysis of dorsal pitting in the os publis in an extensive sample of modern American females

Pubic bones from 486 modern American females between the ages of 13 and 99 were studied in an attempt to explore the relationship between the degree of dorsal pitting and the following variables: (1) number of full term pregnancies, (2) inteval since last pregnancy, (3) age of decedent.A statistical association was found between the number of full term pregnancies and the degree of dorsal pitting. However, the correlation is not strong; 17 females reported as being nulliparous have "medium to large" dorsal changes whereas 22 females having from one to five full term pregnancies have an absence of dorsal changes. Females who had their last child 15 or more years prior to death are more apt to have "medium to large" dorsal changes than are females who have more recently given birth. This effect appears to be independent of the number of full term pregnancies, but is probably related to age. When the data are analyzed by multiple regression analaysis, it is found that age and number of pregnancies are most important in predicting the degree of pitting and the effect of the interval on pitting is not significant. Age is found to be an important variable independent of the number of full term pregnancies. In nulliparas, an absence of dorsal pitting is far more frequently found in females younger than 30 than in those over 30.     

应用软X线推断国人耻骨年龄

对男性１１８副、女性１０８副、１０－６０岁国人耻骨样本应用软Ｘ线进行拍照。根据其内部结构随年龄增长而发生的形态变化规律,采用多变量统计分析法,研制出数量化赋分值标准,用该标准取得的观测数据,使用数量化理论Ｉ和逐步回归数学模型,借助电子计算机技术进行统计分析,建立了推断耻骨年龄男女各自两个方程。经１３例实际案件中应用,其结果达到了设计要求,方程有一定应用价值。     

Skeletal age determination based on the os pubis: A comparison of the Acsádi-Nemeskéri and Suchey-Brooks methods

After reviewing various systems of age determination based on analysis of the pubic bone, the discussion concentrates on the collection and preparation of an extensive autopsy sample (n=1225) of pubic bones from modern individuals with legal documentation of age at death (death and/or birth certificates). TheSuchey-Brooks method derived from this sample is described. TheAcsádi-Nemeskéri system is evaluated in terms of the documented collection and it is seen that their five stage method focuses only on the early and late morphological changes. The intermediate stages, in which the ventral rampart is in process of completion, are not described. Their suggested age ranges do not correspond with the documented modern sample. Based on these limitations of theAcsádi-Nemeskéri method, applications of theSuchey-Brooks system are discussed.     

A re-examination of parturition scars on the human female pelvis

Pits, cavities and depressions located on the dorsal surface of the pubic symphysis of females have been attributed to the trauma of parturition. Earlier research based on human skeletal remains provides inadequate information on the individual's obstetrical history. The 68 female pubic bones that were studied had comprehensive medical records indicating whether or not each female had given birth. Fourteen and one-half percent of the females who had not given birth exhibited trace to small scarring of the pubic symphysis and 23.4% of the females who had not given birth exhibited medium to large scarring. It is suggested that bony changes previously used as an indicator of child bearing must be re-examined in light of the fact that “birth scarring” has been found in women known not to have had children.     

Effect of parity on bone mineral density in female rhesus macaques from Cayo Santiago

This cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between parity, bone mineral density, and spontaneous osteopenia/osteoporosis in a large skeletal population of female rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) from the free-ranging colony of Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico. The sample consists of 119 mature female monkeys aged 4.0-22.2 years at time of death. The data consist of measurements of bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD), obtained from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) of the last lumbar vertebra. After controlling for age, there is a significant increase in BMD of the spine with increasing parity (P = 0.0006), up to a parity of 7 offspring. Thus, high parity initially has a positive effect on BMD in female rhesus monkeys, but this positive effect disappears with parities that are greater than 7 offspring. After controlling for parity, however, age has a negative (P = 0.015) effect on BMD, beginning several years after the attainment of peak BMD (age 9.5 years). Thus, it appears that parity initially mitigates the effects of aging, but the positive effect of parity on BMD is eventually overwhelmed by the aging process. Mean BMC and BMD values are higher in parous females compared to nulliparous females in the same age range. Similarly, females with low parity have significantly lower mean BMD values than do age-matched high-parity controls, and the frequency of osteopenia and osteoporosis is greater in low-parity females. Forty-three percent (43%) of the osteopenic/osteoporotic females in the sample are members of the low-parity group, even though it composes only 13% (16/119) of the entire sample. This study demonstrates that the free-ranging female rhesus monkeys from Cayo Santiago are a good nonhuman primate model for the study of bone mineral density, parity, osteopenia, and osteoporosis.     

Observations of external ear—An Indian study

Somatoscopy of the external ear provides a general idea of the shape of an ear, form of the helix, presence (or absence) of Darwin's tubercle and of the attachment of an ear lobe to a cheek, etc. It is of great importance not only to physical anthropologists but also to plastic surgeons, physicians and forensic scientists. There is no detailed somatoscopic study of the ear morphology concerning the entire Indian subcontinent. Hence, in the present study an attempt has been made to report the frequency of various somatoscopic features of various parts of the auricle of adult males and females who live in the central region of India.In both sexes oval-shaped ears and normally rolled helix were most common. The preauricular region was found to be clear with very few cases of the occurrence of pits and sinuses. Free lobules were more frequent among females than males but it was vice versa for Darwin's tubercle. The position of the ear's upper edge was most commonly located at the eyebrow tail while its lower edge was located at an upper lip level in both sexes. Hypoplastic lobules were noted in one-fifth of males but were very rare among females. Very few cases of lop ear, preauricular appendage and preauricular pit were observed.Some of these somatoscopic features act as soft biometric traits that improve the performance of the primary biometric system of personal identification. Somatoscopy of external ear acts as an aid to surgeons while reconstructing deformed ears and also helps physicians in detecting anomalies, for example, Edward's, cleft lip/cleft palate syndromes.     

Test of Phenice's technique for determining sex from the os pubis

Pubic bone morphology was examined to test the accuracy of Phenice's visual method for determining sex from the os pubis. Twelve participants scored 50 pubic bones from individuals of known sex aged 52-92 years. The sample is of modern males and females, all presumed whites. An accuracy of approximately 83% in determining sex was recorded, compared to 95% reported by Phenice. This accuracy difference may reflect different age distributions of the two samples. Through replication of test results on two series of 25 specimens, the technique was found to be reliable. Previous experiences in human osteological analysis was shown to have no effect on accuracy in this test, confirming Phenice's assertion that the technique does not require extensive experience to yield accurate results. Results suggest that there is a moderate negative correlation between accuracy in determining the sex of an individual and that individual's age.     

A population model based on a life table that includes marriage and parity.

This paper presents a method for constructing a one-sex life table that incorporates age, marriage and parity. The life table is the basis for a generalized population model, with immediate extension to a stable population differentiated by age, marriage and parity status. The method is quite general and could be extended, without major modification, to more complex life tables.Computation of intrinsic rates of increase for a number of populations adjusted for age, for age and parity, for age and marriage, and for age, marriage and parity shows that adjustment for marriage accounts for most of the difference between the age-adjusted rate and the age-, marriage-, and parity-adjusted rate. Adjustment for parity without adjustment for marriage may be misleading.     

Estimation of age from the pubic symphysis by means of multiple regression analysis.

This study has been carried out to assess the age from the pubic symphysial surface employing a multiple regression analysis and a quantification theory model I analysis. Using partial regression coefficients and/or normalized scores obtained from the analyses, ages of skeletal remains can be quantitatively estimated with a fairly high reliability. The use of this method is, however, limited to the samples between 18 and 38 years of age, because age changes in the symphysial surface show large variations after about 40 years. The reliability of this method was also examined.     

Linking dispersal and resources in humans

Competition for resources is one of the main evolutionary explanations for dispersal from the natal area. For humans this explanation has received little attention, despite the key role dispersal is thought to play in shaping social systems. I examine the link between dispersal and resources using historical data on people from the small farming town of Oakham, Massachusetts (1750–1850). I reconstruct individual life histories through a variety of records, identifying dispersers, their age at dispersal, and their destinations. I find that sex, father’s wealth and social status, and age at father’s death were all significantly associated with one or more dispersal variables. Birth order and number of siblings were not significantly associated with any of the dispersal variables. I also use wills and deeds to study transfers of land from fathers to sons. More stayers than dispersers acquired Oakham land from their fathers, but some sons who acquired Oakham land later dispersed. I discuss the causality underlying the relationship between dispersal and resource acquisition, as well as implications for a general understanding of human dispersal.     

Maternal mortality or prolonged growth: Age at death and pelvic size in three prehistoric Amerindian populations

This study evaluates the relationship between age at death and pelvic size among adults in three prehistoric Amerindian populations. The issue is to identify if the pelvis continues to grow and remodel in adulthood, or if there is differential survivorship among adults, particularly among females, based on pelvic size. The samples used in this study are Indian Knoll, Pecos Pueblo, and Libben. Twenty-one measures of the pelvis are analyzed. A correlational analysis among individuals 18 years of age and older shows that the subpubic angle narrows with advancing age in both sexes. The suggested etiology is osteophytic growth on the ischiopubic ramus among older adults. A two-sample test comparing younger (ages 18–24) and older (25 years of age and older) adults shows that the linea terminalis (which represents the pubic and iliac components of the pelvic inlet) is significantly shorter in the younger age group, but this pattern is seen only in females. Two interpretations are consistent with this result. First, a female with a short linea terminalis (i. e., small pelvic inlet) may have died at a young age due to childbirth-related complications. In prehistory, maternal mortality may have been a leading cause of death, with pelvic inlet capacity being a determinant of survivorship among parturients. Second, the linea terminalis may be unique by continuing to grow in early adulthood in females but not in males; the growth occurs at the medial border of the pubis. Longitudinal growth studies of modern humans provide support for the second interpretation. The selective advantage of a later age at maturation of the pubis in females than males is that the period of growth is prolonged, thereby contributing to sexual dimorphism in pubic length and, correspondingly, linea terminalis length and pelvic inlet circumference. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

应用多元分析法判断中国人(男性)耻骨联合面年龄的研究

本文对205例年龄在17—40岁的国人男性耻骨标本进行了形态观察,在此基础上选取八处形态观测项目制订了等级评分标准并对205例标本进行了观察评分。采用多元回归分析和数量化理论模式I的方法对数据进行处理,建立了判断中国人(男性)耻骨年龄的回归方程并与Hanihara方法做了比较。统计分析及50例盲测结果表明较国外同类研究结果为佳并具有一定实用价值。     

The pubic scars of gestation and parturition in a group of pre-Columbian and colonial Peruvian mummies

The pubic scars of pregnancy and parturition as reported in the anthropological literature are a variant of the recognized clinical entity, osteitis pubis. The os pubis from 86 pre-Columbian and colonial Peruvian mummies were examined for this entity. Osteitis pubis was found in 13 pre-Columbian females (72.3%) and 19 colonial Indians (57.6%). Four of the colonial women were buried with newborn children and one had a four-month-old fetus in utero. This type of study has application in paleopathology and forensic medicine to show possible frequency of pregnancy in a population, but must be refined and quantitated to achieve any more than this. This study is of further interest as it demonstrates that racial groups have apparently a wide difference in frequency of this particular lesion of the pubic symphysis, a matter for further investigation.     

Influence of maturation on anthropometry and body composition in Japanese junior high school students

Background

The purpose of this study was to examine maturity-related differences in anthropometry and body composition in Japanese youth within a single year.

Methods

Two hundred and ten Japanese youth aged from 13 to 13.99 years participated in this study. Their maturity status was assessed using a self-assessment of stage of pubic hair development. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to estimate percent body fat and lean body mass (LBM). Muscle thickness of the anterior thigh, posterior lower leg and rectus abdominis muscles were measured by ultrasound.

Results

For boys, height, body weight, and LBM in less mature groups were lower than that in more mature groups. The maturity-related differences were still significant after adjusting for chronological age. On the other hand, muscle thickness values in the lower extremity and abdomen differed among the groups at different stages of pubic hair development, whereas there was no maturity-related difference in the relative values corrected by LBM, except for those thickness values measured at the abdomen. For girls, only the muscle thickness at the anterior thigh and muscle thickness relative to LBM^1/3 at the posterior lower leg was significantly affected by maturity status, but significant maturity-related difference was not found after adjusting for chronological age.

Conclusions

At least for Japanese boys and girls aged 13 years, maturity status affected body size in boys, but not in girls, and the influence of maturation on the muscularity of the lower extremity and trunk muscles is less in both sexes.     

Body composition, age and fertility among free-ranging female rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

The relationship of morphometric measures and birth status among 93 females on Cayo Santiago trapped during the 2001 and 2002 seasons was assessed. The proportion of females giving birth differed between the two seasons (0.58 vs. 0.38; P = 0.006) with a prominent decline among older females. Most morphometric measures increased from adolescent to adult groups, but bicep circumference showed a significant decrease among adults. When controlled for age differences, females with infants during the 2002 season exhibited greater bicep circumference, but no difference in abdominal fat than those without. Members of the socially dominant group did not have a higher rate of birth in either 2001 or 2002, despite being significantly longer and weighing more than those of the subordinate group. Abdominal skinfold and bicep circumference were significant predictors of birth status during the 2002 season, controlling for age group, social group membership, and parity in the previous year. Bicep circumference was also a significant predictor of birth status for the 2001 birth season. These findings suggest that individual variation in body composition among females of Cayo Santiago is associated with differences in fertility.     

Anatomical and developmental bases for the ventral arc of the human pubis

The ventral arc of the pubis is frequently used for sexing adult human hip bones. This study addresses the issues of the anatomical and developmental bases for the ventral arc. Dissection of seven adult pelves (four females and three males) demonstrates that the sexes are identical in the muscular and ligamentous attachments to this ridge of bone. The tendons of gracilis and adductor brevis, which are fused for a variable extent, arise from the ridge of bone, and the fibers of the ventral pubic ligament attach to its medial border. Lateral placement of the ventral arc is defined in terms of the minimum distance between the ridge of bone and the inferior border of the symphyseal face of the pubis. The hypothesis that lateral placement of the ventral arc is positively correlated with pubic length was tested using two random samples of adult female hip bones (N = 50 for both whites and blacks) from the Hamann-Todd collection. The correlation between these variables is significant. The results support the argument that lateral placement of the ventral arc is related to the amount of postadolescent growth occurring at the symphyseal border of the pubis. Therefore, the ventral arc should not be considered as an independent criterion from pubic length in sexing adult hip bones.