Ossification and midline shape changes of the human fetal cranial base Export

@article{citeulike:2618190, abstract = {An appreciation of ontogenetic changes to the cranial base is important for understanding the evolution of modern human skull form. Using geometric morphometric techniques, this study explores midline shape variations of the basicranium and midface during human prenatal ontogeny. In particular, the analysis sets out to explore shape variations associated with endochondral ossification and to reassess shape variations previously observed on the basis of angular measures.Fifty-four formalin-preserved human fetuses were imaged using high-resolution MRI. Coordinates for 10 landmarks defining the midline basicranium and midface were acquired and areas of ossification in the midline basioccipital, basisphenoid, and presphenoid cartilages were measured as percentages of overall cranial base area. The results show shape variations with increasing fetal size that are consistent with cranial base retroflexion, anterior facial projection and dorsal facial rotation. These growth variations are centered on the midsphenoid area and are associated with disproportionate variations of sphenoid height and length. Small but significant correlations were observed between ossification of the presphenoid cartilage and components of shape that described, among other variations, sphenoid shortening. While ossification cannot be directly linked with the shape variations observed, it seems likely that bone formation plays a role in modulating the influence of other factors on the fetal cranial base. Am J Phys Anthropol 2003. {\copyright} 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.}, address = {Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE, United Kingdom; Evolutionary Anatomy Unit, Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, WCIE 6JJ United Kingdom}, author = {Jeffery, Nathan and Spoor, Fred}, citeulike-article-id = {2618190}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.10292}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/104537854/ABSTRACT}, doi = {10.1002/ajpa.10292}, journal = {American Journal of Physical Anthropology}, keywords = {angulation, basicranium, development, endochondral, evolution, mri, ossification, prenatal, shape, sphenoid}, number = {1}, pages = {78--90}, posted-at = {2008-04-01 02:15:30}, priority = {2}, title = {Ossification and midline shape changes of the human fetal cranial base}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.10292}, volume = {123}, year = {2004} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:2618190 L3 - citeulike-article-id:2618190 N2 - An appreciation of ontogenetic changes to the cranial base is important for understanding the evolution of modern human skull form. Using geometric morphometric techniques, this study explores midline shape variations of the basicranium and midface during human prenatal ontogeny. In particular, the analysis sets out to explore shape variations associated with endochondral ossification and to reassess shape variations previously observed on the basis of angular measures.Fifty-four formalin-preserved human fetuses were imaged using high-resolution MRI. Coordinates for 10 landmarks defining the midline basicranium and midface were acquired and areas of ossification in the midline basioccipital, basisphenoid, and presphenoid cartilages were measured as percentages of overall cranial base area. The results show shape variations with increasing fetal size that are consistent with cranial base retroflexion, anterior facial projection and dorsal facial rotation. These growth variations are centered on the midsphenoid area and are associated with disproportionate variations of sphenoid height and length. Small but significant correlations were observed between ossification of the presphenoid cartilage and components of shape that described, among other variations, sphenoid shortening. While ossification cannot be directly linked with the shape variations observed, it seems likely that bone formation plays a role in modulating the influence of other factors on the fetal cranial base. Am J Phys Anthropol 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. IS - 1 JF - American Journal of Physical Anthropology AD - Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE, United Kingdom; Evolutionary Anatomy Unit, Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, WCIE 6JJ United Kingdom EP - 90 TI - Ossification and midline shape changes of the human fetal cranial base VL - 123 SP - 78 KW - angulation KW - basicranium KW - development KW - endochondral KW - evolution KW - mri KW - ossification KW - prenatal KW - shape KW - sphenoid AU - Jeffery, Nathan AU - Spoor, Fred PY - 2004/// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.10292 ER -