Growth pattern of the maxillary sinus in the Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata): reflections on the structural role of the paranasal sinuses

Abstract

To investigate the claim that the primate paranasal sinuses possess not a functional but a structural role associated with the skull architecture (Blaney, 1990), the relationship between the maxillary sinus and the skull architecture was studied ontogenetically in 30 skulls of male and female Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). Coronal CT scan series and computerised 3-dimensional images served to evaluate the maxillary sinus. The definitive hemispherical shape of the sinus was already achieved after the completion of the primary dentition. Sinus volume increased with a trend indicating positive allometry. When compared with an ontogenetic data set of orang-utan (Koppe et al. 1995), however, the growth rate of the maxillary sinus of M. fuscata was significantly less. The maxillary sinus both of male and female macaques enlarged according to a common growth pattern. However, no sexual dimorphism could be established for the maxillary sinus size. Although the volume of the right maxillary sinus was normally bigger than that of the left side, the results suggested that asymmetry in maxillary sinus volume is related neither to skull size nor sex. Whereas a correlation analysis showed close relationships between the maxillary sinus volume and external cranial dimensions, the partial correlation coefficients revealed that these relationships were highly influenced by skull size. Although it cannot be ruled out that the paranasal sinuses are to some extent linked to the skull architecture, this study does not support a solely structural role for these air cavities.

A Longitudinal Study of the Growth Pattern of the Maxillary Sinus in the Pig-Tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrina)

“…A review of the available literature suggests, however, that the individual growth of the paranasal sinuses has been almost neglected. While numerous authors have reported ontogenetic data about the human paranasal sinuses [14][15][16][17][18], to our knowledge, very few studies have been done on nonhuman primates [2,19]. The latter studies on skull pneumatization of nonhuman primates, however, are cross-sectional in design and cover only a part of ontogeny.…”

“…While this relationship is certainly evident for hominoids, factors other than body mass are likely to influence the pneumatization of the alveolar process in macaques. Indeed, whereas M. nemestrina, a monkey with an average body mass of 7.8 kg [35], possesses a sinus that excavates deeply into the alveolar process, the sinus floor of the heavier Japanese macaque (average body mass: 10.5 kg [35]) is well above the tooth roots [2].…”

“…In particular, the current debate about whether the paranasal sinuses have a structural or a functional role (or both ) has not yet been resolved [1,2]. Although this situation is unsatisfactory per se, it is interesting that uncertainty about the functions of the sinus spaces has not deterred researchers from using the paranasal sinuses as a trait in phylogenetic analyses of primates [3][4][5].…”

Growth Pattern of the Maxillary Sinus in the Miniature Pig <i>(Sus scrofa)</i>

“…Indeed, a recent cross-sectional study suggested that the difference in MS size between the orangutan and the Japanese macaque results in part from a different growth pattern . While considerable research has been conducted on the postnatal growth of the MS of humans and some nonhuman primates [Schaeffer, 1920;Ariji et al, 1994;Koppe and Nagai, 1997;Koppe et al, in press], our knowledge about the growth pattern of the sinus spaces of nonprimate mammals is rather limited. Apart from a report on the prenatal growth of the MS of the rat [Vidic, 1971], most studies conducted on nonprimate mammals so far dealt with adults [Paulli, 1900a-c;Negus, 1958;Hillmann, 1975;Pohlmeyer, 1977], and only a few researchers have provided quantitative data [Heyne and Schumacher, 1967].…”

Differences in the morphology of the maxillary sinus and roots of teeth between Macaca fuscata and Macaca fuscata yakui determined using cone beam computed tomography

“…In primates that possess a maxillary sinus, the canine root is placed in the cancellous bone of the maxilla, anterior to the pneumatic space. The root of the canine causes a medial bulge in the inner table of the bone of the maxilla that extends into the nasal cavity 7) . Knowledge of the internal structural configurations may promote a clearer understanding of the development and formation of paranasal pneumatization in primates.…”