Hyperostosis frontalis interna in Arctic groups according to craniology

Abstract

We have examined 942 skulls from the collections of the Anuchin Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology (13 craniological collections of the Arctic groups). We have analyzed the total frequency of HFI, used a comparative intergroup analysis, and evaluated the degree of HFI expression and the distribution of the trait according to sex and age. Univariate nonparametric statistics was applied. Results. It was found that the rate of HFI in the Arctic groups is much lower than in other groups of modern Eurasian and American populations. In the combined series, HFI was equally represented in both males and females. However, according to the age distribution, the male and female groups are different. HFI was more frequent in males in the Adultus and Maturus groups and in the Senilis group in females. Discussion. The significantly lower frequency of HFI in the Arctic series relative to the other modern groups show us a low level of metabolic disorders in the Arctic population and a good adaptation to the type of nutrition and living in extreme conditions. The obtained data show the predominance of the trait in the groups of mature and elderly women, and the appearance of HFI of different severity in men regardless of the age category. Probably, in the Arctic samples in women, HFI identifies metabolic disorders due to normal hormonal changes in women aging. HFI should be considered as an indicator of the presence of metabolic disorders in young and mature age in Arctic men group.