Naslov
The Neanderthal patella: topographic bone distribution and inner structural organization

Autori
Beaudet, Amélie ; Bernardini, Federico ; Cazenave, Marine ; Mazurier, Arnaud ; Radovčić, Davorka ; Radovčić, Jakov ; Tuniz, Claudio ; Volpato, Virginie ; Macchiarelli, Roberto

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Proceedings of the European Society for the study of Human Evolution 2 / - , 2013

Skup
3rd Annual Meeting of the European Society for the study of Human Evolution

Mjesto i datum
Beč, Austrija, 19.09.2013. - 21.09.2013

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
Neandertal patella; Krapina; Regourdou

Sažetak
The mammalian knee is an ”alarmingly complex joint” (Lovejoy, 2007: 326). It functionally represents a key-site where body weight is transferred to the ground and the locomotor- related stresses generated by the ground reaction are dissipated. Comparative analyses of the tibial plateau inner structure revealed an intimate relationship in extant primates between site- specific bone thickness variation and locomotion- related functional loads (Mazurier et al., 2010 ; Beaudet et al., 2012). However, within a distinct ”anthropic pattern”, expressed by a thicker cortical shell at the medial condyle associated to a strengthening of the cancellous network, some differences have been reported between the extant human and the Neanderthal conditions, the latter being characterized by a thicker articular plateau (at both medial and lateral condyles) and thicker sub-epiphyseal struts (Mazurier et al., 2010 ; Volpato et al., 2012). The patella, which is included in the knee capsule and actively takes part into the complex biomechanical dynamics at this joint, should record similar structural variation. However, while investigated in a clinical perspective (e.g., Toumi et al., 2006), its inner architecture is still unreported in fossil humans. We used X-ray microtomography to detail the structure of nine adult Neanderthal patellae from the early OIS 5e Croatian site of Krapina (spec. Pa.1., Pa.3., Pa.5. to Pa.9., and Pa.14. ; Radovčić et al., 1988) and the OIS 4 partial skeleton Regourdou 1, France (Piveteau, 1959). Acquisitions were performed at the ICTP Multidisciplinary Laboratory of Trieste (isotropic voxel size of 31.58 µm) and at the ESRF ID 17 beamline of Grenoble (45.5x45.5x45.7 µm). The modern human condition is represented by 42 specimens from 22 adult individuals of both sexes selected from the archaeological sites of Geili (Sudan) and Velia (Italy). Our preliminary 2-3D virtual analyses show that the cortico-trabecular complex, i.e. the most dense zone including the cortical shell and the adjoining portions of the supporting trabecular network, is relatively and absolutely thicker in Neanderthals, where it is associated to a higher number of interconnected plate-like structures. In all cases investigated so far, the nonarticular surface is relatively thicker. However, while in Neanderthals the structural contrast between the medial and lateral facets is marked and the thickest complex lies beneath the latter, there is no distinct pattern in the modern patellae. Finally, in terms of textural properties, the cancellous network immediately below the cortico-trabecular complex globally shows a less heterogeneous pattern in Neanderthals compared to the topographic variation recorded in the modern specimens.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija, Arheologija, Etnologija i antropologija

POVEZANOST RADA