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Anthropometrical Analysis of the Foramen Magnum in Ancient Children
Haijun Li1, Huimin Chen1, Wanqi Duan1
1School of Ethnology and Sociology, Minzu University of China, Beijing.
Abstract:
Anthropometrical analysis of the foramen magnum (FM) was conducted on a sample of 32 children and 101 adults excavated from Zaghunluq cemetery dating between 2600 and 1900 cal. yr BP in Xinjiang, China. The FM features of children during age changes and growth spurt periods were explored by comparing the length of the FM, the width of the FM, and the values of the FM index among different age groups. The data presented in this study indicate that the size of the FM was smallest at 2 years old, and the FM size during 5 to 7 years of age was close to that of adults, supporting the view that the size of the 6-year-old skull is close to that of the adult and brain growth appears to terminate at 7 years. The FM likely experiences a growth spurt period during 2 to 5 years of age. Regression equations were established by regression analysis of the length and width of the FM. Study on the morphological variation of the FM provides further information about the growth of children.
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