Maxillary molar occlusal polygons in five human samples

Morris, Donald H.

doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330700308

Cited by 53 publications

(38 citation statements)

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“…In dental anthropological studies, upper first molars (M l ) are potentially useful for taxonomic assignment of isolated human remains (e.g., Wood and Engleman, 1988;Tattersall and Schwartz, 1999;Bailey, 2004) and are even distinct among dif ferent modem human populations (Morris, 1986). Moreover, M l morphology has been shown to be distinctive in H. nean derthalensis (Bailey, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, M l morphology has been shown to be distinctive in H. nean derthalensis (Bailey, 2004). These conclusions usually come from personal observation and classic metric studies using linear measurements of the crown (l\1orris, 1986;Wood and Engleman, 1988), cusps angles (Morris, 1986;Bailey, 2004), relative cusp areas (Wood and Engleman, 1988;Bailey, 2004), and occlusal polygon areas (defined by lines connecting cusp apices; Morris, 1986;Bailey, 2004). In addition, M l dis plays the most stable morphology within the molar series (Scott and Turner, 1997), which undoubtedly makes it easier to iden tify homologous landmarks despite variation among species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, this system fails to cover the complete range of dental variation in the hominin fossil re cord (Bailey, 2002(Bailey, , 2004Hlusko, 2004;Martin6n-Torres, 2006), particularly in the case of the upper first molar. Futtber more, classic morphometrie studies have also revealed certain limitations for characterizing the dental variability of some populations (e.g., Goose, 1963;Hillson et aI., 2005;Stojanow ski, 2006), motivating the search for alternative methods with different degrees of success (Biggerstaff, 1969;Morris, 1986;Mayhall, 2000;Bailey, 2004;Hillson et aI., 2005;Stojanow ski, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A geometric morphometric analysis of hominin upper first molar shape

Gómez‐Robles

Martinón‐Torres

Castro

et al. 2007

Journal of Human Evolution

154

174

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Recent studies have revealed interesting differences in upper first molar morphology across the hominin fossil record, particularly significant between H. sapiens and H. neanderthalensis. Usually these analyses have been performed by means of classic morphometric methods, including the measurement of relative cusp areas or the angles defined between cusps. Although these studies have provided valuable information for the morphological characterization of some hominin species, we believe that the analysis of this particular tooth could be more conclusive for tax onomic assignment. In this study, we have applied geometric morphometric methods to explore the morphological variability of the upper first molar (Ml) across the human fossil record. Our emphasis focuses on the study of the phenetic relationships among the European middle Pleis tocene populations (designated as H. heidelhergensis) with H. neanderthalensis and H. sapiens, but the inclusion of Australopithecus and early Homo specimens has helped us to assess the polarity of the observed traits. H. neanderthalensis presents a unique morphology characterized by a relatively distal displacement of the lingual cusps and protrusion in the external outline of a large and bulging hypocone. This morphology can be found in a less pronounced degree in the European early and middle Pleistocene populations, and reaches its maximum expression with the H. neanderthalensis lineage. In contrast, modern humans retain the primitive morphology with a square occlusal polygon associated with a round external outline.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A geometric morphometric analysis of hominin upper first molar shape

Gómez‐Robles

Martinón‐Torres

Castro

et al. 2007

Journal of Human Evolution

154

174

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“…Most of the studies of metric variations in the dentition of past populations have utilized standard anthropological methods using sliding or digital callipers and measuring mesiodistal and buccolingual crown dimensions (Morris, 1986;Haddow, 2001;Serafin, 2007;Kimura et al, 2009;Bernal et al, 2010). However, alternative methods can be now used to determine tooth size and morphology by utilizing digital photography and dedicated software.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, alternative methods can be now used to determine tooth size and morphology by utilizing digital photography and dedicated software. The method of the occlusal polygon was first presented by Morris (1986). Morris defined a polygon on the occlusal face of cusped teeth by linking the apices of their cusps (Figure 1).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dental microevolution in Portuguese Neolithic and modern samples using an alternative morphometric analysis

Fernandes

Silva

O’Donnabhain

et al. 2013

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Most studies of dental microevolution have used the standard methodologies employed in dental anthropology: buccolingual/mesiodistal lengths and the frequencies of non-metric dental traits. In this work we use the occlusal polygon method which is based on a polygon created by linking the four molar cusp apices using digital analysis. This method has been used to identify different evolutionary trends in Neandertal and modern humans; our objective was to assess the existence of changes in the occlusal polygon area, and thus the general morphology of first upper molars, between two Portuguese samples from the Late Neolithic (4130 ± 90 BP) and the early 20th century. This method allows us to evaluate both tooth size and relative cusp position in the occlusal plane. Contrary to the accentuated tooth size reduction commonly found from the past 10000 years using buccolingual/ mesiodistal measurements, no statistically significant change of the total occlusal area of the crown was observed between these samples. Nevertheless, we report an increase of 7.45% in the size of the occlusal polygon and hence 9.38% in its relative area, from 27.30% of the total crown area to 30.30% over this time span. This result implies that microevolutionary changes among Portuguese populations led to changes in the positions of the cusps relative to one another in the first upper molar, whereas the location of their apices have moved away from the centre of the crown to a more peripheral position. This apparent increasing trend contrasts with the one reported in studies of both Neandertals and modern humans.

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Forensic Odontology

Edgar¹,

Rautman²

2015

A Companion to Dental Anthropology

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Maxillary molar occlusal polygons in five human samples

Cited by 53 publications

References 1 publication

A geometric morphometric analysis of hominin upper first molar shape

A geometric morphometric analysis of hominin upper first molar shape

Dental microevolution in Portuguese Neolithic and modern samples using an alternative morphometric analysis

Forensic Odontology

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