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Additional manal and pedal epiphyseal centres
Summary
Medieval skeletons reveal a high prevalence of accessory epiphyses in hand and feet bones, particularly the distal first metacarpal and first metatarsal. These findings contrast sharply with modern anatomical data, suggesting variations in skeletal development.
Area of Science:
- Paleopathology
- Bioarchaeology
- Human Osteology
Background:
- Excavation of 136 medieval skeletons in Norwich.
- Focus on sub-adult skeletal remains for developmental analysis.
Observation:
- Examination of hand and feet bones revealed a high percentage of accessory epiphyses.
- Accessory epiphyses were most common at the distal first metacarpal and first metatarsal.
- Traces of fusion lines identified the majority of these additional ossification centers.
Findings:
- Medieval sub-adults exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of accessory epiphyses than reported in modern anatomical literature.
- Accessory epiphyses, often overlooked or unreported in archaeological contexts, were a notable feature in this sample.
Implications:
- Suggests potential variations in human skeletal development between medieval and modern populations.
- Highlights the importance of considering accessory epiphyses in paleopathological and bioarchaeological analyses.
- Warrants further investigation into the etiological factors underlying these observed skeletal differences.