engleski

A new approach to pathological changes of the human spine in physical anthropology

Etiology of pathological changes on the vertebral bodies such as Schmorl’s nodes is still unclear. Many causes, such as developmental factors, degenerative mechanisms, infection, neoplasia and trauma, have been proposed but none critically evaluated. Number of theories addressing their pathogenesis has been suggested, but no consensus currently exists. In the paleopathological literature, these lesions are strongly related to lifestyle, mostly with hard physical labor ; therefore they are often used as indicators of physical stress in archaeological populations. Our research goal is to define typology of Schmorl's nodes in order to understand and explain their possible etiology as a new approach to pathological changes of the human spine in physical anthropology and physical therapy. A long-term anthropological and statistical analysis started in February 2015, on the osteological material of the medieval cemetery of Perkáta-Nyúli dűlő site, curated at the Hungarian National Museum, Budapest. The cemetery of Perkáta involves 99 burials of a 16-17th c. South-Slavic population. South-Slavics involve all ethnicities coming from the Balkan Peninsula like Serbs, Croats and Bosnians during Turkish Rule in Hungary. We have systematically recorded and analyzed Schmorl’s nodes with macro- and microscopic visual methods on 1196 vertebras in 50 human spines (14-59 year-old). Based on their morphology, Schmorl’s nodes were divided into four types (A to D). Preliminary analysis showed, at different frequencies, these morphological categories. The most frequent were B and D. It seems that some of South-Slavic populations of Perkáta were under heavy mechanical loads. The underlying causes are probably related to specific life events or occupation, which can be further investigated with the interpretation of the archaeological and funerary background. Our observations, pointed at those new approaches in the analysis of pathological changes of the human spine in archaeological samples, can help in predicting and preventing potential pathological changes in modern populations.

human spine, physical anthropology, patological changes

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