The Neonatal Ilium-Metaphyseal Drivers and Vascular Passengers

Cunningham CA, Black SM. Source Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK. c.a.cunningham@dundee.ac.uk Abstract At birth the newborn is equipped with a developing locomotor apparatus, which will ultimately become involved in load transfer from the period when the child adopts a sitting posture through to the attainment of a bipedal gait. This load transfer has been considered to influence trabecular bone structural organization by setting up forces, which remodel the internal architecture into a functionally optimized form. However, during the neonatal developmental period the locomotor apparatus is nonweight bearing and instead only supports reflexive movements. Surprisingly, a structural organization has been identified within the internal trabecular architecture and external cortical morphology of the neonatal ilium, which appears to mimic the structural composition of the more mature bone. This study aims to build upon previous qualitative and quantitative investigation of this apparently precocious patterning by further examining structural data obtained from selected volumes of interest within the ilium. Analysis has revealed statistically significant differences in regional trabecular and cortical bone characteristics, which have formed the basis of a possible growth model for the ilium. Volumetric comparison has demonstrated the presence of three progressive "growth regions" and three "restricted growth regions," which appear to relate to metaphyseal and nonmetaphyseal borders of the ilium. Therefore, the structural data and statistical analysis presented in this study challenge the current concept of implied centrifugal ossification within the human ilium and present evidence of an alternative pattern of ossification that is largely dictated and controlled by vascular distribution and growth plate position. (c) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20665808

Three-Dimensional Analysis of Deciduous Maxillary Anterior Teeth Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography
Jung MS, Lee SP, Kim GT, Choi SC, Park JH, Kim JW. Source Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. pedoman@snu.ac.kr.

Abstract The recent introduction of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) into the medical field has allowed the nondestructive investigation of internal structures at relatively low cost and radiation exposure. The accuracy of CBCT in both two and three dimensions has been demonstrated, and CBCT has been used successfully for craniofacial anatomy. Knowing the anatomical structure of deciduous teeth is essential for clinical dentistry. However, the root structure of deciduous teeth is rarely reported because of the scarcity of intact deciduous teeth without root resorption. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intact root form of deciduous teeth using CBCT. Data from 38 young children was analyzed using an image-analyzing program. The degree of buccal dilacerations was 26.3 for deciduous maxillary central incisors (DMA), 16.5 for deciduous maxillary lateral incisors (DMB), and 17.5 for deciduous maxillary canines (DMC) in about half of the root length. The crown-to-root ratios were 0.52 for DMA, 0.48 for DMB, and 0.52 for DMC. These data will be helpful for understanding the development of dentition, and for clinical dentistry. Clin.Anat., 2011. 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Copyright 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21544876

Development of the Fetal Ilium--Challenging Concepts of Bipedality

Cunningham CA, Black SM. Source Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK. c.a.cunningham@dundee.ac.uk Abstract Macroradiographs of 30 human fetal and neonatal ilia were analysed to investigate the early pattern of trabecular bone organization prior to the influences of direct weight-bearing locomotion. Consistent and well-defined patterns of internal organization were identified within the fetal and neonatal ilium, which correspond with previously recognized regions that have been attributed directly to forces associated with bipedal locomotion. This study proposes that patterns previously attributed to weight-bearing locomotive responses are present in the earliest stages of the development of this bone. It is suggested that the rudimentary scaffold seen in the fetal and neonatal ilium could indicate a predetermined template upon which locomotive influences may be superimposed and perhaps reinforced at a later age. Alternatively, this early pattern may mimic the adult form due to the effects of in-utero limb movement activity even though it is not weight bearing. This is a preliminary study that will be supported in a further communication with three-dimensional micro-computed trabecular analysis. 2011 The Authors. Journal of Anatomy 2011 Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19018881

Ontogenetic Changes in the Internal and External Morphology of the Ilium in Modern Humans
Abel R, Macho GA. Source Imperial College London, Charing Cross Campus, London, UK. Abstract Trabecular architecture forms an important structural component of bone and, depending on the loading conditions encountered during life, is organised in a systematic, bone- and species-specific manner. However, recent studies suggested that gross trabecular arrangement (e.g. density distribution), like overall bone shape, is predetermined and/or affected by factors other than loading and perhaps less plastic than commonly assumed. To explore this issue further, the present cross-sectional ontogenetic study investigated morphological changes in external bone shape in relation to changes in trabecular bundle orientation and anisotropy. Radiographs of 73 modern human ilia were assessed using radiographic and Geometric Morphometric techniques. The study confirmed the apparently strong predetermination of trabecular bundle development, i.e. prior to external loading, although loading clearly also had an effect on overall morphology. For example, the sacro-pubic bundle, which follows the path of load transmission from the auricular surface to the acetabulum, is well defined and shows relatively high levels of anisotropy from early stages of development; the situation for the ischio-iliac strut is similar. However, while the sacro-pubic strut retains a constant relationship with the external landmarks defining the joint surfaces, the ischioiliac bundle changes its relationship with the external landmarks and becomes aligned with the iliac tubercle only during late adolescence/early adulthood. It is tentatively proposed that the rearrangement of the ischio-iliac strut may reflect a change in locomotor pattern and/or a shift in positional behavior with increasing mass after growth of external bone dimensions has slowed/ceased.

2011 The Authors. Journal of Anatomy 2011 Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21323915