The incidence and expression of the subcondylar tubercle of the mandible in early Polynesians, modern Indians and modern Europeans

A sample of pre-European Polynesian and Melanesian mandibles, modern Asian Indians and cadaveric European mandibles were investigated to establish the prevalence of a subcondylar tubercle and to attempt to relate its presence to mandibular function. Among the three population samples, the subcondylar tubercle appeared 1.5 times more frequently among the Polynesians/Melanesians, than either the Indian or European groups. It was fairly equally present on both sides in all three groups. Where it was present unilaterally, it was far more likely to be present on the left side. This left-side presence coincided with a significantly greater right-side condylar height and ramal width.