Differences in articular-eminence inclination between medieval and contemporary human populations

Articular Eminence Inclination in Medieval and Contemporary Croatian Population

“…Th e measurements are diffi cult due to the complicated structure of the articular eminence and glenoid fossa which consists of many small and complex curved surfaces. Usually two diff erent methods are used for AEI measurements 15,19 . One method is to measure the angle between the best fi t line on the slope of the eminence and the Frankfurt horizontal plane, while the other method is to measure the angle between the Frankfurt horizontal plane and the line connecting the roof of the fossa with the highest point of articular eminence.…”

“…Although both angles represent the AEI, the fi rst angle (best fi t line-Frankfurt horizontal) focuses primarily on the posterior surface of the eminence, whereas the other angle (fossa roof-eminence top, Frankfurt horizontal) focuses on the location of the eminence crest relative to the fossa roof 15 . Th e former method (best fi st line-Frankfurt horizontal) was used in the present study because the posterior slope of the articular eminence is easy to observe (and measure the inclination), and represents the actual but simplifi ed condylar path 19 .…”

“…Diff erence between the two populations was in their lifestyle and type of food consumed. Th e early medieval MP population was intensely agricultural with a high consumption of cereals, a food that was not so hard and contained much soluble material 19 . As a result, lower masticatory forces were needed for food processing.…”

“…All the skulls were placed on a fl at camera holder surface and lined on the underside with condensation silicone impression material (Optosil, Heraeus, Hanau, Germany) to obtain a symmetric orientation of the sagittal plane parallel to the surface of the table camera holder (perpendicular to the camera lens). Photographs with lateral views of both sides of the skulls were taken for each specimen to perform measurement of the AEI 19 . Th e measurements were performed on digital images using the software application VistaMetrix (Skillcrest LLC, Tucson, Arizona, USA).…”

“…Th e AEI ( Fig. 1) was then defi ned as the angle between the best fi t line drawn along the posterior wall of the articular eminence and the Frankfurt horizontal plane 19 . Using the VistaMetrix software, the values of the angles were measured and expressed in degrees.…”