The Paranasal Sinuses of the Hofmeyr Cranium

Butaric, Lauren N.; Buck, Laura T.; Balzeau, Antoine; Plessis, Anton du; Grine, Frederick E.

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-07426-4_11

Cited by 6 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 169 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In particular, as most archaic specimens are known to possess absolutely large MS volumes (Buck et al, 2019; Noback et al, 2016; Rae et al, 2011; Zollikofer et al, 2008), greater levels of prognathism in these fossil specimens may result in larger MS volumes being associated with a more anteroposteriorly elongated MS shape—a pattern opposite of that seen in modern humans (where relative anteroposterior elongation is associated with smaller MS volumes). Thus, although previous studies have disputed whether archaic humans exhibit MS “hyperpneumatizion” (Butaric et al, n.d.; Buck et al, 2019; Rae & Koppe, 2000; Rae et al, 2011; Zollikofer et al, 2008), our study suggests that potential differences in MS shape between modern and archaic humans may still be linked to MS volume through distinctly different patterns of MS size‐shape scaling. Future analyses of MS shape variation in fossil specimens would help clarify this issue.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 52%

“…Future analyses of MS shape variation in fossil specimens would help clarify this issue. Still, as facial retraction is widely accepted to represent a derived condition in H. sapiens (Lieberman, 2008; Stringer, 2016; Trinkaus, 2006), the possibility that modern humans are characterized by a markedly different pattern of MS size‐shape scaling may actually be consistent with their possession of an evolutionary divergent craniofacial form (Butaric et al, n.d.; Buck, 2014; Buck et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Human maxillary sinus size, shape, and surface area: Implications for structural and functional hypotheses

Kim

Ward

Butaric

et al. 2022

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives: Although research into human maxillary sinus (MS) morphology has overwhelmingly focused on sinus volume, other aspects of morphology (e.g., overall shape, mucosal surface area) factor prominently in hypotheses regarding MS form and function. Here, we investigate MS volume in conjunction with measures of MS shape and surface area in a large, diverse sample of modern humans. We test whether variation in MS volume is associated with predictable changes in MS shape (i.e., allometry) and investigate the influence of MS size-shape scaling on mucosal surface area dynamics.Materials and Methods: Measures of MS volume and surface area were obtained from computed tomographic (CT) scans of 162 modern human crania from three ancestral backgrounds-Equatorial Africa, Europe, and East Asia. 3D coordinate landmarks and linear measurements were also collected. Multivariate analyses were employed to test for associations between MS volume and other morphological variables.Results: Significant associations between MS volume and 3D shape were identified both across and within the subsamples. Variation in MS volume was found to predominantly relate to differences in MS height and width dimensions relative to MS length. This pattern of allometric scaling was found to differentially influence total mucosal surface area and the SAV ratio. Conclusion:This study suggests that variation in MS volume is disproportionately mediated by MS width and height dimensions. This finding has implications for hypotheses which structurally link MS morphology to craniofacial ontogeny and those which suggest that MS morphology may perform adaptive physiological functions.

show abstract

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 52%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human maxillary sinus size, shape, and surface area: Implications for structural and functional hypotheses

Kim

Ward

Butaric

et al. 2022

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Following Butaric et al (2020); Butaric, Buck, et al (2022) individuals with total (i.e., bilateral) frontal sinus aplasia were excluded from the sample-mean calculation of frontal sinus volume. This appears to be a standard procedure adopted by others, since inclusion of crania with aplasia would entail including data points of "0.00 mL."…”

Section: Excluded Crania-the Final Samplementioning

confidence: 99%

“…17-20 years [Ebeye et al, 2021;Soliman et al, 2022]), and the study by Brown et al (1984) did not extend beyond 24 years of age. Thus, as observed by Butaric, Buck, et al (2022), the actual growth patterns exhibited by individuals into adulthood remains poorly known.…”

Section: Ontogenetic Age and Frontal Sinus Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Variation, sexual dimorphism, and enlargement of the frontal sinus with age in adult South Africans

Greening,

Hernandez,

Mongle

et al. 2024

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ObjectivesTo document frontal sinus volume (FSV) in a sample of sub‐Saharan Africans with a view to evaluating claims that such populations exhibit comparatively small sinuses. This study also addresses questions related to sexual dimorphism, incidence of sinus aplasia, and the possibility that FSV continues to increase through adulthood.Materials and methodsFSV was measured from CT scans of adult crania from the Dart Collection. Sex and age were known for each individual. Linear cranial dimensions were used to compute a geometric mean from which a scaled FSV was computed for each cranium.ResultsFSV does not differ significantly between sexes, but females exhibit a higher incidence of aplasia. There is considerable variation in FSV in this sample, with the average ranking among the higher means reported for other population samples. The incidence of FS aplasia falls within the range of values recorded for other population samples. Although our study is cross‐sectional rather than longitudinal, there is strong evidence that FSV continues to increase with age throughout adulthood.DiscussionThe FSV mean of our sample contradicts the notion that sub‐Saharan Africans possess small sinuses. In a global context, geography (climate and altitude) does not appear to be related to FSV. The absence of sexual dimorphism in our sample is unexpected, as significant dimorphism has been reported for most other population samples. Our results support other indications that the frontal sinus continues to expand throughout adulthood, especially in females, and that it is likely due to bone resorption.

show abstract

Metopism in adult South Africans and its relationship to frontal sinus size

Grine,

Greening,

Hernandez

et al. 2023

The Anatomical Record

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study documents the incidences of complete and partial metopism and their possible relationship to frontal sinus volume (FSV) in a sample of modern adult black South Africans with a view to evaluating the hypothesis that metopism affects frontal sinus hypoplasia. FSV was measured from CT scans and the incidence of metopism was recorded from direct observations of dried cadaveric crania. The sex of each individual was known. Four linear cranial dimensions were used to compute a geometric mean by which to scale FSV. The incidence of partial metopism (38%) is comparable to that reported for other population samples, although there is considerable variation among these global sample frequencies. It is significantly more common in male than female South Africans. FSV in individuals with complete metopism is smaller than average but not inordinately so. On the other hand, FSV is significantly larger in individuals with partial metopism than in those that do not present with this sutural remnant. The data on FSV in individuals with and without partial metopism contradict the hypothesis that there is a relationship between partial metopism and frontal sinus hypoplasia. As such, the metopic remnant evinced by the Late Pleistocene cranium from Hofmeyr, South Africa is unlikely to be related to its very small FSV.

show abstract

The Paranasal Sinuses of the Hofmeyr Cranium

Cited by 6 publications

References 169 publications

Human maxillary sinus size, shape, and surface area: Implications for structural and functional hypotheses

Human maxillary sinus size, shape, and surface area: Implications for structural and functional hypotheses

Variation, sexual dimorphism, and enlargement of the frontal sinus with age in adult South Africans

Metopism in adult South Africans and its relationship to frontal sinus size

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About