Palaeohistology of Human Bone Remains: a Critical Evaluation and an Example of Its Use

Bianco, Paolo; Ascenzi, A.

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-77001-2_10

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…These depressions are not always symmetrical in size or shape (especially near their center), although they may achieve symmetry as they develop and achieve their maximum dimensions over a period of years. The margin of the depressions gradually slope downward and toward the endocranium and toward the center of the depression where the bone becomes smooth and thinnest, sometimes less than 1 mm thick, and without diploe . Resorption resulting in depressions causes the calvaria to lose its outer (periosteal) contour while maintaining its normal convex endocranial contour.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biparietal Thinning: Accidental Death by a Fall from Standing Height

Mann

Kobayashi

Schiller

2017

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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Biparietal thinning resulting in bilateral and symmetrical resorption and loss of thickness of the parietal bones is an uncommon to rare condition in the anthropological and clinical literature. This enigmatic condition of unknown etiology was first reported in the 18th century and has been variously described as a nonmetric trait, anatomical variant, anomaly, and pathology. Biparietal thinning presents grossly and radiographically as oval-shaped depressions in 0.25-0.8% and 0.4-0.5% of individuals and with a higher frequency in females over the age of 60 years. A review of the literature revealed only one example of cranial trauma associated with biparietal thinning and none of fatal trauma associated with this condition. This case reports a rare example of fatal trauma in an elderly man that resulted from a backward fall from a standing height and highlights the increased risk of craniocerebral trauma in individuals with this condition.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biparietal Thinning: Accidental Death by a Fall from Standing Height

Mann

Kobayashi

Schiller

2017

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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“…In these conditions, the influence taphonomic factors (such as diagenesis, or physical-chemical factors, and modification by plant roots and microorganism) on human bone buried at these sites may have been very intense. In tropical hot and humid climates the materials of archeological sites are therefore subjected to intense percolation and bioactivity for a long period, which actively mobilizes the organic matter and mineral salts (Francillon-Vieillot et al 1990, Bianco & Ascenzi 1993, Fernandéz-López 2000. In the three sites the burials were direct and primary.…”

Section: Saquarema Sambaquis and The Preservation Of Ancestral Dnamentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleogenetic and taphonomic analysis of human bones from Moa, Beirada, and Zé Espinho Sambaquis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Marinho

Miranda

Braz

et al. 2006

Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz

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“…Microscopy is a valuable tool, for the study and differentiation of diseases from past populations (i.e., within the discipline of paleopathology), and to ascertain the impact of diagenetic factors on the architecture of normal and pathological bone. Moreover, it is useful to infer the role that bone abnormalities might play in the progression of diagenesis (Bianco & Ascenzi, 1993). Under polarized light, for example, the observation of "Maltese crosses" [an alternate pattern of light and dark bands (Schultz, 1997) that forms due to the presence of crystallized bone mineral oriented by the organization of the collagen fibers (Schoeninger et al, 1989)] is considered a good indicator of bone birefringence and of well-preserved lamellae in Haversian structures (von Hunnius et al, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bone Diagenesis and its Implication for Disease Diagnosis: The Relevance of Bone Microstructure Analysis for the Study of Past Human Remains

et al. 2015

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When bone is exposed to the burial environment it may experience structural changes induced by multiple agents. The study of postmortem alterations is important to differentiate decomposition phenomena from normal physiological processes or pathological lesions, as well as to assess bone tissue quality. Microscopy is of great utility to evaluate the integrity of bone microstructure and it provides significant data on long-term bone decomposition. A total of 18 human bone sections (eight archeological and ten retrieved from an identified skeletal collection) were selected for analysis under plane light and polarized light. The aim of this exploratory study was to analyze the impact of diagenesis and taphonomy on the bone microstructure, as well as on the differential diagnosis of pathological conditions. The results showed that the microscopic approach to bone tissues contributed materially as an aid in the detailed description of the main diagenetic changes observed. It showed that gross inspection does not provide a realistic assessment of bone tissue preservation, which can impact in the characterization of lesions present and subsequent disease diagnosis. Therefore, researchers should continue to consider the application of histological techniques if the aim is to comprehend tissue integrity and its association with decomposition or disease.

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Palaeohistology of Human Bone Remains: a Critical Evaluation and an Example of Its Use

Cited by 5 publications

References 6 publications

Biparietal Thinning: Accidental Death by a Fall from Standing Height

Biparietal Thinning: Accidental Death by a Fall from Standing Height

Paleogenetic and taphonomic analysis of human bones from Moa, Beirada, and Zé Espinho Sambaquis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Bone Diagenesis and its Implication for Disease Diagnosis: The Relevance of Bone Microstructure Analysis for the Study of Past Human Remains

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