Ontogenetic changes in cranial vault thickness in a modern sample of Homo sapiens

Abstract

The pattern of thickness arrangement is established early in ontogeny but CVT increases and changes in distribution until adolescence. Several factors may influence CVT, such as the brain, muscles, vessels, and sutures.

Parietal Bone Thickness and Vascular Diameters in Adult Modern Humans: A Survey on Cranial Remains

“…In their second study, the parietal boss was recognized as the thickest while the posterior inferior part was the thinnest (Peterson and Dechow, ). Anzelmo et al () identified the thickest regions of the parietal bone along the midline in the upper parts of the bone, while the thinnest regions appear to be the lateral walls and the lower parts of the cranial bones. These findings are in agreement with the results of the present study, in which the upper parts tend to be thicker, while the lower parts of the parietal bone tend to be thinner.…”

“…Skrzat et al () observed some differences in the diploe density of younger and older adults due to a reduction in calcium concentration. No significant sexual differences have been described in CVT (Ross et al, ; Lynnerup, ; Lynnerup et al, ; Torres‐Lagares et al, ; Sabancıoğulları et al, ; Anzelmo et al, ).…”

“…Several studies have pointed out that CVT differs not only among hominids (e.g., Kennedy, 1991;Nawrocki, 1991;Gauld, 1996;Balzeau, 2013) but also among modern human populations (Curnoe, 2009;Marsh, 2013). Bone thickness is assumed not to be strongly genetically determined, but is mainly influenced by systemic and local stimuli (e.g., Lieberman, 1996;Baab et al, 2010;Menegaz et al, 2010;Anzelmo et al, 2014).…”

Investigating histomorphological variations in human cranial bones through ontogeny

“…Despite the profuse number of investigations regarding the cranium microstructure and histology using noninvasive-nondestructive analytical protocols, such as scanning electron microscope (SEM) (Kranioti et al, 2009;Martínez-Maza, 2007;Martínez-Maza et al, 2006, 2011Mowbray, 2005), computed tomography (CT) (Anzelmo et al, 2014), micro-computed tomography (CT) (Rühli et al, 2007) and synchrotron absorption-based CT (Sanchez et al, 2012), conventional histological techniques used to assess bone tissue through bone thin sections (e.g., Enlow, 1968), could aid in better understanding human cranium ontogeny and the evolution of the cranium (Bartsiokas, 2002;Martínez-Maza et al, 2006). The present study focused on the histological analysis of cranial vault bones, in which we explored the microstructure of the frontal, parietal and occipital bones of three individuals from the same osteoachaeological collection with different ages (child, adolescent and young adult).…”

Variations in the Thickness of the Cranial Vault in a Deformed Skull from Pre-Hispanic Ancón (Peru)

“…Compared to normal anatomical variations of the vault thickness [11,14,16], the pronounced asymmetry of the parietal bones and the marked thinning of the parasagittal posterior part of the parietal bones suggested pressure exerted from above by a headdeforming device, while the lack of regular occipital thickening anteroposteriorly towards the external occipital protuberance suggested pressure exerted from behind by a headdeforming device.…”