Contribution to knowledge of the bony labyrinth and interfenestral axis in certain mammals and man

Ontogenetic Changes in the Bony Labyrinth of Macaca mulatt a

“…This increase in verticality of the IFA of macaques through ontogeny is similar to that seen in humans, which con tinues until puberty [Hadziselimovic, 1968;Sercer, 1958], As stated previously, verticality of the IFA appears related to the abil ity to maintain an upright posture. Bipedalism and increase in the size of the neurocranium resulted in various adaptations of the skull.…”

“…Curthoys et al [1977] reported that in cats, guinea pigs and humans the angles of the three semicircular canals on the left differed from those on the right. Although data on labyrinthine asymmetry in the macaque are not available, Hadziselimovic [1968] reported that asymmetry of the labyrinth and IFAs in humans was correlated with overall cranial asymmetry in 98% of humans examined.…”

“…A number of workers [Delattre, 1952;Sercer, 1958;Hadziselimovic, 1968] proposed that the labyrinthine rotation associated with human ontogeny mirrors the phylogenetic transformation of the labyrinth that accompanied the evolution of upright posture and bipedalism. In various mammalian quadrupeds and nonhuman primates, verticality of the IFA appears related to the ability to assume and maintain upright posture [Saban, 1952;Hadziselimovic, 1968], Thus, one would suspect that orienta tion of the IFA in quadrupedal mammals would vary as a function of trun cal erectness in positional behavior.…”

“…In various mammalian quadrupeds and nonhuman primates, verticality of the IFA appears related to the ability to assume and maintain upright posture [Saban, 1952;Hadziselimovic, 1968], Thus, one would suspect that orienta tion of the IFA in quadrupedal mammals would vary as a function of trun cal erectness in positional behavior.…”