Remodelling of bone occurs in response to physical stress. Habitual squatting is associated with modifications of the neck of the talus (squatting facets) and its trochlear\malleolar surfaces (trochlear extensions), and individual populations exhibit different incidences of these modifications that reflect their lifestyle. The occurrence of talar modifications was therefore investigated in a population of late Byzantine (13th century AD) adult male skeletons. Lateral squatting facets occurred most frequently (37.7 %), but medial (0.6 %), combined (0.6 %) and continuous (gutter-like) facets (0.6 %) were also observed. Lateral (8.0 %), medial (10.9 %) and continuous (lateral\central\medial) extensions (4.6 %) of the trochlear surface were all present in the late Byzantine population. There was no evidence of side dimorphism. The occurrence of lateral squatting facets in the late Byzantine population was greater than that reported for modern Europeans, but similar to that reported for some populations of modern Indians. The frequency of occurrence of trochlear extensions in the late Byzantine population was substantially less than in modern Indian populations, but similar to modern Europeans. Therefore, it is unlikely that precisely the same factors determine the expression of squatting facets and trochlear extensions.Key words : Hyperdorsiflexion of the foot ; bone remodelling. The articular morphology of the human skeleton can be subject to modification by stresses imposed upon it. Habitual squatting has long been recognised to alter the skeletal morphology of the lower limb (Thomson, 1889(Thomson, , 1890. Squatting is a resting postural complex that involves hyperflexion at the hip and knee and hyperdorsiflexion at the ankle and subtalar joints. During locomotion, the foot is rarely dorsiflexed sufficiently to bring the anterior border of the inferior extremity of the tibia into contact with the dorsum of the neck of the talus. Thus modifications of the neck of the talus and the distal tibia indicating their habitual contact have been taken as evidence of the extreme dorsiflexion of the ankle that occurs in

Vertebral bone, joints and ligaments on the cervical spine are structures that maintain the stability of the spine and protect the neurovascular structures. Determining the detailed anatomical location of the intervertebral foramen and unco-vertebral (UV) region with respect to the vertebral bone, joint and ligaments is critical when choosing the safest surgical approach to the cervical spine. We studied the microscopic detailed anatomy of the dural covering and posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) in eight cadaver specimens and the relevance of these structures in the UV region from C4 to C7. The uncinate process (UP) and its covering ligaments are mechanical barriers that prevent the nerve root and the vertebral artery against unintentional surgical damage. Dissection at the posterolateral surface of the UP revealed a separate perivascular fibroligamentous tissue (PVFLT) that originates from the PLL. The recognition of the PVFLT may provide for safe surgery by protecting the neural and vascular structures during decompression in the UV region.

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Relation of the mental foramen to teeth on the mandibles belonging to the Byzantium periodFifty mandibles belonging to the Byzantium period were studied in order to determine to racial differences about of the localization of the mental foramen according to the mandibular teeth. Mandibles of adult males without missing teeth, proximal decay and proximal attrition were used. On the right side, the most common position of the mental foramen was between the first and second lower teeth (50%), whereas on the left side, the most common position was in line with the longitudinal axis of the lower second premolar tooth (46%). Because of materials including mostly Alpine's and a few of Mediterranean subraces, two different positions of the mental foramen were determined in high similar ratios.