The growth of the rabbit skull in 3 dimensions --a radiographic cephalometric appraisal

A 3 dimensional radiographic cephalometric technique has been devised to study form changes in the rabbit's skull during post-natal growth. Analysis of serial growth radiographs of individual Dutch and New Zealand breed animals demonstrates precise and ordered patterns of change in skull form. The cohesive nature of these changes indicates that the entire skull should be viewed as an entity in which the cells must act in concert during growth. Strong associations are present between size attained at 7 weeks and that ultimately arrived at in each adult animal. The consistency of these growth processes suggest that rabbit skull growth can be predicted with substantial accuracy. Comparison of variation in groups of adult laboratory and wild species of lagomorphs supports the view that variation in adult skull form is dominated by genetic factors. Similar comprehensive 3 dimensional studies of form changes in man could lead to better diagnosis and treatment of incipient structural abnormality.