Sexual dimorphism of the relationship between the gut and pelvis in humans
Dados Bibliográficos
| AUTOR(ES) | |
|---|---|
| AFILIAÇÃO(ÕES) | Department of Anthropology California State University Long Beach California USA, Department of Anthropology University of Wisconsin—Madison Madison Wisconsin USA, Department of Anatomy A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine 800 W. Jefferson St., Kirksville Missouri USA |
| ANO | 2020 |
| TIPO | Artigo |
| PERIÓDICO | American Journal of Physical Anthropology |
| ISSN | 0002-9483 |
| E-ISSN | 1096-8644 |
| EDITORA | John Wiley and Sons Inc |
| DOI | 10.1002/ajpa.24084 |
| CITAÇÕES | 1 |
| ADICIONADO EM | 2025-08-18 |
Resumo
ObjectivesObstetric demands have long been considered in the evolution of the pelvis, yet consideration of the interaction of pregnancy, the pelvis, and the gastrointestinal tract (gut) is lacking. Here, we explore sex differences in the relationship of gut volume with body size and pelvic dimensions.Materials and MethodsComputed tomography (CT) scans of living adult Homo sapiens (46 females and 42 males) were obtained to measure in vivo gut volume (GV) and to extract 3D models of the pelvis. We collected 19 3D landmarks from each pelvis model to acquire pelvic measurements. We used ordinary least squares regression to explore relationships between GV and body weight, stature, and linear pelvic dimensions.ResultsThe gut‐pelvis relationship differs between males and females. Females do not exhibit significant statistical correlations between GV and any variable tested. GV correlates with body size and pelvic outlet size in males. GV scales with negative allometry relative to body weight, stature, maximum bi‐iliac breadth, inferior transverse outlet breadth, and bispinous distance in males.DiscussionThe lack of association between GV and body size in females may be due to limits imposed by the anticipation of accommodating a gravid uterus and/or the increased plasticity of the pelvis. The pattern of relationship between GV and the pelvic outlet suggests the role of the bony pelvis in supporting the adominal viscera in females may be small relative to its role in childbirth. We conclude that gut size inference in fossil hominins from skeletal proxies is limited and confounded by sexual dimorphism.