Ontogenetic changes of diploic channels in modern humans

Bibliographic Data

ID8320760
AuthorsGizéh Rangel‐de Lázaro (0000-0002-3257-0783, Department of Earth Sciences Natural History Museum London UK, corresponding author), Simon Neubauer (0000-0001-9113-5063, Department of Human Evolution Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig Germany), Philipp Gunz (0000-0002-2350-4450, Department of Human Evolution Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig Germany), E Bruner (0000-0002-6686-4616, Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana)
Year2020
Volume173
Issue1
Pages96-111
Publication date2020-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.24085
PMID32462711
OpenAlexW3029557055
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited64

OBJECTIVES: The diploic channels are bony passages of veins, running within frontal, parietal, and occipital bones. In this study, we investigate ontogenetic changes of these channels in a sample of nonadult and adult modern humans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using computed tomography scans of dried crania, we provide quantitative comparisons of lumen size, branch length, volume, and vascular asymmetries, and correlations with age, cranial size, and bone thickness. RESULTS: The vascular system displays progressive but nonlinear changes throughout ontogeny, becoming even more complex with adulthood. Vascular variables are significantly different in frontal, parietal, and occipital bones for most of the postnatal ontogeny. Diploic channels of the left and right sides are developed similarly. Vascular variables display a nonlinear association with age and cranial size in modern humans. Cranial bone thickness is shown to be a major determinant of lumen size, branch length, and volume. CONCLUSIONS: A previous radiographic survey suggested that diploic channels are more developed in adult modern humans than in nonadults. Recent advances in digital anatomy have been used in this study to investigate this craniovascular structure. The complexity of the channels increases during development, with a noticeable boost in adults. Taking into account the potential metabolic differences and constraints associated with modern human brain size and shape, the vascular differences found might be related to endocranial thermoregulation

Biology · Brain size · Crania · Cranial bone · Endocast · Lumen (anatomy) · Magnetic resonance imaging · Occipital bone · Ontogeny · Parietal bone · Radiology · Skull · Anatomy · Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Medicine · Moyamoya disease diagnosis and treatment

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