Evaluation of Paraspinal Fat Pad as an Indicator of Posterior Ligamentous Complex Injury in Cervical Spine Trauma.

Purpose To determine if the obliteration of a cervical space, the paraspinal fat pad (PFP), can be used as an indicator at computed tomography (CT) of an injury of cervical spine posterior ligamentous complex (PLC). Materials and Methods This retrospective study was approved by the institutional board review; written informed consent was obtained from healthy subjects and was waived for patients. First, PFP appearance was evaluated in an anatomic specimen and in 10 healthy subjects on spine CT scans by three radiologists (readers 1, 2, and 3) working in consensus. Then, in 85 patients with suspicion of cervical spine trauma following high-velocity trauma, readers 2 and 3 reviewed in consensus the cervical spine CT (reference for fracture and luxation) and 1.5-T magnetic resonance images (T1, T2, and short inversion time inversion-recovery sequences; reference for ligament and disk injuries and contusion or occult fracture) for traumatic injuries. CT appearance of PFP was independently analyzed by readers 1 and 2, and interobserver agreement (weighted kappa) was calculated. Relationships between PFP changes and injuries and descriptive analysis were calculated by using logistic regression and Fisher test, respectively. Results The PFP could be identified as a well-circumscribed fatty area between cervical spine and posterior muscles. Interobserver agreement was 0.76. An abnormal PFP was associated with PLC (P < .001) and arch (P = .006) injuries but not with body (P = .056), longitudinal ligaments (P = .412), or disk (P = .665) injuries. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for PLC injuries were 55% (11 of 20), 97% (38 of 39), 92% (11 of 12), and 81% (38 of 47), respectively. Conclusion PFP changes on CT scans are significantly associated with injuries of PLC in patients with spine cervical trauma. © RSNA, 2016 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Non-metric variation of the middle phalanges of the human toes (II-V): long/short types and their evolutionary significance.

The human lateral toes are characterised by extreme reduction compared with other primates, and in particular other hominoids. Some phalangeal non-metric variants have been well identified in humans, in particular: triphalangeal/biphalangeal patterns, and the presence/absence of phalangeal secondary centres of ossification. The purpose of the present study was to describe and analyse an original non-metric variation of the middle phalanges of the lateral toes. The material consisted of 2541 foot radiographs that came from 2541 different European adult individuals. Two morphological types of the middle phalanx were defined as a simple binary trait: long type (L) and short type (S). In feet with a triphalangeal pattern in all lateral toes (1413 cases), a mediolateral increasing gradient was observed in the occurrence of type S: 8.1% in II; 30.7% in III; 68.4% in IV; and 99.1% in V. In feet with a biphalangeal pattern in one or more lateral toes (III-V; 1128 cases), type S occurred more frequently than in triphalangeal feet. Of the 30 theoretical arrangements of the L/S types in the lateral toes (II-V) in a complete foot, only 13 patterns were observed. Seven patterns represented 95.6% of the population: LLSS (20.9%), LLLS (17.1%), LSS (15.9%), SSS (14.5%), LSSS (12.7%), LLS (10.1%) and SSSS (4.4%). Type L can be interpreted as the primitive pattern (plesiomorphy), and type S as a derived pattern (apomorphy) that seems specific to the human species (i.e. autapomorphy). Within the specific evolution of the human foot in relation to the acquisition of constant erect posture and bipedalism, the short type of the middle phalanges can reasonably be considered as directly linked to the reduction of the lateral toes.

MSCT versus CBCT: evaluation of high-resolution acquisition modes for dento-maxillary and skull-base imaging.

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to conduct a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of high-resolution skull-bone imaging for dentistry and otolaryngology using different architectures of recent X-ray computed tomography systems. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) systems and one Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) system were used in this study. All apparatuses were tested with installed acquisition modes and proprietary reconstruction software enabling high-resolution bone imaging. Quantitative analyses were performed with small fields of view with the preclinical vmCT phantom, which permits to measure spatial resolution, geometrical accuracy, linearity and homogeneity. Ten operators performed visual qualitative analyses on the vmCT phantom images, and on dry human skull images. RESULTS: Quantitative analysis showed no significant differences between protocols in terms of linearity and geometric accuracy. All MSCT systems present a better homogeneity than the CBCT. Both quantitative and visual analyses demonstrate that CBCT acquisitions are not better than the collimated helical MSCT mode. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that current high-resolution MSCT protocols could exceed the performance of a previous generation CBCT system for spatial resolution and image homogeneity. KEY POINTS: • Quantitative evaluation is a prerequisite for comparison of imaging equipment. • Bone imaging quality could be objectively assessed with a phantom and dry skull. • The current MSCT shows better image quality than a dental CBCT system. • CBCT remains a work-in-progress technology.

Brief communication: The size of the human frontal sinuses in adults presenting complete persistence of the metopic suture.

The notion of absence of the frontal sinuses in human individuals presenting a persistence of the metopic suture is considered as classical in many treatises of reference; however, precise studies are very rare and even controversial. The purpose of this study was thus to provide original data to confirm or refute this classical affirmation with the perspective of some original insights into biological significance of the frontal sinuses and the factors influencing their exceptional polymorphism. The material consisted of 143 dry skulls of adult individuals (European Homo sapiens), distributed in two groups: 80 skulls presenting a complete frontal closure with total disappearance of the metopic suture, and 63 skulls presenting a complete persistence of the metopic suture. Each skull was radiographed in oblique projection using the occipitomental view. A simple morphological quantification of the sinus size was defined with four categories: (1) aplasia, (2) hypoplasia, (3) medium size, (4) hyperplasia. Statistically significant difference in frontal sinusal size was found between both groups of skulls. Absent and small sinuses were considerably more frequent in skulls with persistence of the metopic suture (57.9 vs. 11.9%): small frontal sinuses (hypoplasia) were much more frequent (50.8 vs. 9.4%), although the frequency of absence of frontal sinuses (aplasia) was only slightly higher (7.1 vs. 2.5%).

Cone-beam computed tomography arthrography: an innovative modality for the evaluation of wrist ligament and cartilage injuries.

PURPOSE: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) has become an important modality in dento-facial imaging but remains poorly used in the exploration of the musculoskeletal system. The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the performance and radiation exposure of CBCT arthrography in the evaluation of ligament and cartilage injuries in cadaveric wrists, with gross pathology findings as the standard of reference. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Conventional arthrography was performed under fluoroscopic guidance on 10 cadaveric wrists, followed by MDCT acquisition and CBCT acquisition. CBCT arthrography and MDCT arthrography images were independently analyzed by two musculoskeletal radiologists working independently and then in consensus. The following items were observed: scapholunate and lunotriquetral ligaments, triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) (tear, integrity), and proximal carpal row cartilage (chondral tears). Wrists were dissected and served as the standard of reference for comparisons. Interobserver agreement, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were determined. Radiation dose (CTDI) of both modalities was recorded. RESULTS: CBCT arthrography provides equivalent results to MDCT arthrography in the evaluation of ligaments and cartilage with sensitivity and specificity between 82 and 100%, and interobserver agreement between 0.83 and 0.97. However, radiation dose was significantly lower (p < 0.05) for CBCT arthrography than for MDCT arthrography with a mean CTDI of 2.1 mGy (range 1.7-2.2) versus a mean of 15.1 mGy (range 14.7-16.1). CONCLUSION: CBCT arthrography appears to be an innovative alternative to MDCT arthrography of the wrist as it allows an accurate and low radiation dose evaluation of ligaments and cartilage.

[Japanese students and assistants of the medical faculty of Strasbourg from 1872 to 1918]. / Etudiants et assistants japonais à la Faculté de médecine de Strasbourg de 1872 à 1918.

After the annexation of Alsace by Germany, ratified by the treatise of Versailles in January 1871, a new large-scale university was created in Strasbourg by the German authorities. It was inaugurated the 1st of May 1872, named Kaiser-Wilhelms-Universität from 1877, and existed until the return of Alsace to France in 1918. Due to its prestige, this university rapidly attracted foreign students (i.e. nor Alsation nor German, representing the majority). Among those, 48 Japanese students were registered at the Faculty of Medicine between 1872 and 1918, and moreover one assistant, and in particular (by chronological order of first registration): Kenji Osawa (1878-1882), Yoshikiyo Koganei (1882-1883), Tsukasa Hirota (1885-1888), Masunosuke Hirayama (1889-1890), Trasaburo Araki (1889-1893), Tatsukichi Irisawa (1890-1892), Katsutake Azuma (1898-1899), Akira Fujinami (1898-1899), Toshijiro Chiba (1899-1900), Junichi Mochizuki (1899-1900), Buntaro Adachi (1899-1903), Haruo Hayashi (1903-1904), Ryokichi Inada (1904-1905), Takaoki Sasaki (1905-1906), Kaoru Aoki (1908-1913), and Jujiro Honda (1910-1911), who had then a prestigious universitary career in Japan. Among these 48 students, at least 7 realized their dissertation for the doctorate of medicine in Strasbourg (Osawa 1882, Maki 1884, Takahashi 1887, Mayeda 1890, Araki 1891, Matsuyama 1898, Ito 1899).

Oval in males and triangular in females? A quantitative evaluation of sexual dimorphism in the human obturator foramen.

Among the numerous pelvic traits presenting sex differences, the obturator foramen is classically described as being oval in males and triangular in females. However, no demonstrations or detailed studies seem available in the literature. The purpose of this work was to study quantitatively this trait using Fourier analysis, because this methodological approach is particularly well adapted for discrimination between different simple shapes. Using this approach, an outline can be characterized by a series of harmonics (1 to n), each defined by two Fourier descriptors: amplitude (C(n)), describing the relative importance of the harmonic contribution to the original shape, and phase (Phi(n)), representing the orientation of the harmonic contribution. The material consisted of 104 three-dimensional CT reconstructions of adult pelves (52 males and 52 females). After size normalization, the outlines of the 104 left obturator foramens were studied. Significant differences were demonstrated with, in total, 84.6% of individuals presenting a correct inferred sex. The most discriminating descriptors were the phase of the second harmonic (C(2),) related to the oval (or elliptic) aspect and thus the elongation of the shape, and the amplitude of the third harmonic (Phi(3)), describing the triangularity of the shape. Because the trend for an outline to be more or less oval or triangular is difficult to visually assess and because there is an infinite number of transitional shapes, only a precise quantitative approach such as Fourier analysis allows for unambiguous characterization and statistical analysis.

Transverse foramen of the atlas (C1) anteriorly unclosed: a misknown human variant and its evolutionary significance.

STUDY DESIGN: Morphologic study of 500 human adult atlases, 256 atlases of nonhuman adult primates representing 37 genera, and 25 human atlases of newborns and young individuals from birth to 3 years of age. OBJECTIVE: To provide original observations to attempt to understand the anterior unclosure of the transverse foramen of the human atlas, to ascertain its occurrence in primates, and to offer some elements regarding the evolutionary and functional significance of this disposition. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Anteriorly unclosed transverse foramen is one of the classic variants of the human atlas, however, rare quantitative data are available in the literature and this disposition remains little understood. METHODS: Macroscopical study (dried bones). RESULTS: In humans, an anteriorly unclosed transverse foramen was observed on one or both sides in 51 individuals of the 500 in the present series (10.2%); bilateral occurrence (symmetric manifestation) was observed in 45.1% of the anterior unclosures and unilateral occurrence in 54.9%; no significant right or left predominance was observed in the frequency of lateral occurrence. In human newborns and young individuals (from birth to 3 years of age), the transverse foramen was anteriorly unclosed in all of the 25 cases studied. In nonhuman primates, some bilateral or unilateral cases of anterior unclosure were only observed in hominoids, except gibbons: orangutans (8.3%), gorillas (10.5%), and chimpanzees (14.3%). CONCLUSION: The anteriorly unclosed transverse foramen of the atlas seems to be the result of an evolutionary tendency characteristic of hominoids within primates and could be interpreted as a shared derived character (i.e., synapomorphy) and as the persistence in adults of a juvenile pattern (i.e., paedomorphosis). It must not be interpreted as a pathologic erosion or destruction but as being a simple normal variant.

Bipartition of the superior articular facets of the first cervical vertebra (atlas or C1): a human variant probably specific among primates.

The bipartition of the superior articular facet is one of the classical variants of the human atlas. Rare quantitative data are available in the literature on this possible bipartition in humans and this disposition remains little understood. For non-human primates, there are almost no detailed comparative data in the literature, despite their potential importance in understanding the significance of this pattern in humans and its evolution. The material used in this study consisted of 500 human atlases and of 256 atlases of non-human primates representing 37 genera. In humans, bipartition of one or both of the superior articular facets was observed in 104 individuals out of the 500 (20.8%); bilateral occurrence was observed in 46.2% of the bipartitions and unilateral occurrence in 53.8%; no significant right or left predominance was observed. In non-human primates, no case of bipartition of the superior articular facets of the atlas was found in any of the 256 individuals studied. From a phylogenetic point of view, we suggest that a single superior facet of the atlas is the primitive pattern or plesiomorphy in primates. Modification of this general pattern seems to occur only in some individuals in Homo sapiens within primates, and the bipartition of the facet could thus be interpreted as a derived characteristic restricted to the human species or autapomorphy. The appearance of the bipartition of the superior articular facet of the atlas during human evolution could be the result of functional modifications due to the acquisition of constant erect posture and bipedalism.

[Homage to Doctor Theodore Vetter (1916-2004). President of the French Society of the History of Medicine from 1976 to 1978]. / Hommage au Docteur Théodore Vetter (1916-2004). Président de la Société Française d'Histoire de la Médecine de 1976 a 1978.

Théodore Vetter (Strasbourg, 1916, June 19th - 2004, July 8th) was qualified as a medical doctor in medicine in 1948 in Strasbourg, and then followed complementary courses in medical biology in Paris. He realized most of his career as an adviser for medical research in pharmaceutical industry. He presented an early talent for drawing and graphic arts, encouraged by Georges Ritleng (1875-1972), headmaster of the School of decorative arts in Strasbourg. One expression of the artistic gift of Th. Vetter consisted in design and making of ex-libris, field in which he acquired an international reputation. In total, he realized about two hundred ex-libris, mostly for physicians. Also attracted by the history of medicine, he became a member of the Société Française d'Histoire de la Médecine; he was general secretary from 1965 to 1970, then he became vice-president and president from 1976 to 1978. He was the author of about a hundred works concerning the history of medicine; all were characterized by a great rigour and by the direct use of original sources. Among his main works, his studies on the oculist Jacques Daviel (1693-1762), popularizer of the surgery of cataract, on the surgeon Claude Nicolas Le Cat (1700-1768), on the birth of pathology, a commented edition of the complete works of Hippocrates, translated by M.P.E. Littré (1801-1881), and numerous papers on the history of medicine in Strasbourg and Alsace.

Secondary centers of ossification of the human toes: exceptional polymorphism and evolutionary perspectives.

As great morphological variability characterizes the phalanges of the human toes in adults, we hypothesized for a possible variability in the presence or absence of their secondary (= epiphyseal) centers of ossification linked to the unique morphology of the human foot within primates. The aim of this study was thus to provide original and detailed data on the occurrence of these centers. Classically, the big toe or hallux (I) presents two secondary centers and the lateral toes (II-V) three centers, and consequently the five toes present a total of 14 secondary centers. The material studied consisted of 261 foot radiographs from 261 young individuals of European origin (202 males and 59 females; 6-16 years). The presence (or absence) of the secondary centers of the phalanges of the toes was assessed for each foot. Feet presenting a biphalangeal variant in one or more lateral toes were studied separately. The theoretical possibilities of association of the three secondary centers in a given lateral toe (II-V) are eight in number; these eight patterns were studied and coded in the present study by types A-H. An exceptional variability in the occurrence of the secondary centers in lateral toes (II-V) was observed, and the classic pattern of phalangeal ossification was never observed. The absence of one or more secondary centers seems to be observed only in the human species, and we suggest that this could be a derived pattern specific to the human species, i.e., autapomorphic pattern. These results are of interest in the characterization and understanding of the reduction in size of the lateral toes which characterizes the specific evolution of the human foot.

Variations of the mandibular shape in extant hominoids: Generic, specific, and subspecific quantification using elliptical fourier analysis in lateral view.

While a number of studies have documented the mandibular variations in hominoids, few focused on evaluating the variation of the whole outline of this structure. Using an efficient morphometrical approach, i.e. elliptical Fourier analysis, mandibular outlines in lateral view from 578 adult hominoids representing the genera Hylobates, Pongo, Gorilla, Pan, and Homo were quantified and compared. This study confirms that elliptical Fourier analysis provides an accurate characterization of the shape of the mandibular profile. Differences in mandibular shape between hominoid genera, species, subspecies, and to a lesser extent between sexes were demonstrated. Mandibles in great apes and hylobatids subspecies were generally less distinct from each other than were species. However, the magnitudes of differences among subspecies of Gorilla and Pongo approached or exceeded those between Pan troglodytes and P. paniscus. The powerful discrimination between taxa from the genus down to subspecific level associated to the relatively low level of intrageneric mandibular polymorphism in great apes provides strong evidences in support of the taxonomic utility of the shape of the mandibular profile in hominoids. In addition, morphological affinities between Pongo and Pan and the clear distinction between Homo and Pan suggest that the mandibular outline is a poor estimate of phylogenetic relationships in great apes and humans. The sexual dimorphism in mandibular shape exhibits two patterns of expression: a high degree of dimorphism in Gorilla, Pongo, and H. s. syndactylus and a relatively low one in modern humans and Pan. Besides, degree of mandibular shape dimorphism can vary considerably among closely related subspecies as observed in gorillas, arguing against the use of mandibular shape dimorphism patterns as characters in phylogenetic analyses. However, the quantification of the mandibular shape and of the variations among hominoids provides an interesting comparative framework that is likely to supply further arguments for a better understanding of the patterns of differentiation between living hominoids.

Shape of the lateral mandibular outline in Lemuridae: a quantitative analysis of variability using elliptical Fourier analysis.

While several morphometric analyses in lemurids have focused on the craniofacial complex, the characterization of their mandibular morphology has received less attention. The mandibular outline, in lateral perspective, was quantified using elliptical Fourier analysis, in an osteological sample encompassing 189 lemurid mandibles (66 Eulemur, 51 Hapalemur, 22 Lemur and 50 Varecia), and compared using multivariate statistical techniques. The taxonomic value of this outline in Lemuridae was demonstrated by the existence of significant separations between the four genera studied. In particular, the mandibular morphology of Hapalemur was markedly different from that in the group Eulemur-Lemur-Varecia. Excluding Hapalemur from analysis, the distinctions between Eulemur, Lemur and Varecia were enhanced suggesting the existence of more subtle intergeneric differences in mandibular morphology. Variation in mandibular form was greatest in Hapalemur and smallest in Eulemur and Varecia (as demonstrated by the mean values of interindividual distances); variation was higher in Lemur than in Eulemur and Varecia, but not higher than in Hapalemur. This morphological diversity may be related to functional adaptation in response to particular dietary habits. The patterns of intergeneric and intrageneric shape variations of the mandible in Lemuridae presented here provide a valuable resource for the analysis of variation among living and fossil lemurids.

Skeletal segments of the human pollical and hallucal rays: comparison and analysis of their intrinsic proportions.

Since in humans, the first digital ray has a different functional significance in the hand and in the foot, the comparison of the pollical and hallucal rays seems interesting in order to evaluate the influence of specific evolutionary functional factors and biomechanical constraints. The objective of this study was to provide original and detailed data on the intrinsic proportions of the three segments of the human pollical and hallucal rays (metacarpal or metatarsal bone, proximal phalanx, and distal phalanx) in order to allow a quantitative comparison of their relative development. No similar data evaluated from three-dimensional approaches (volumetric or ponderal) seem to be available in the literature. The material consisted of 77 skeletons of the pollical ray and 77 skeletons of the hallucal ray of normal adult individuals. The ponderal approach was used. The first metapodial represented a mean of 57.17% for the pollical ray and 68.48% for the hallucal ray, whereas the phalanges respectively represented 42.83% and 31.52%. The intrinsic phalangeal proportions were almost identical for the pollex and for the hallux (respectively, 71.76% and 72.88% for the proximal phalanx; and 28.24% and 27.12% for the distal phalanx). Since these intrinsic proportions are the reflection of biological, functional and evolutionary constraints, these data seem of interest for the analysis of the functional significance of these rays, for the characterization of malformative syndromes in clinical practice, for reference in comparative morphology, and for the interpretation of hominid fossil bones.

[The anatomists in Algiers during the French colonial period (1830-1962)]. / Les anatomistes d'Alger durant la période coloniale française (1830-1962).

A remarkable anatomical school existed in Algiers during the French colonial period from 1830 to 1962. From 1832 to 1836, in the first military hospital of Algiers, Lucien Jean Baptiste Baudens (1804-1857) already started lectures of anatomy. A School of Medicine was created in Algiers in 1857 and opened in 1859 ; it was transformed in a Faculty of Medicine in 1909. Five professors occupied the chair of anatomy from 1859 to 1962 : Dr Patin from 1859 to 1869, Paulin Trolard (1842-1910) from 1869 to 1910, Jean Amédée Weber (1877-1966) from 1908 to 1917, Emile Leblanc from 1918 to 1939, and René-Marcel de Ribet (1894-1967) from 1940 to 1962. A second chair devoted to medico-surgical anatomy and surgical technique was created in 1957 and occupied by René Bourgeon (1912-1996) from 1957 to 1962. Some of the major works of those anatomists are evoked.

Bony ponticles of the atlas (C1) over the groove for the vertebral artery in humans and primates: polymorphism and evolutionary trends.

The aim of this study was to ascertain the distribution in primates of the three possible bony ponticles over the groove for the vertebral artery (ventral, lateral, and dorsal ponticles), in order to attempt to understand the variants observed in humans and to ascertain possible evolutionary trends in primates. The material consisted of 393 atlases of extant nonhuman primates representative of 41 genera, and of 500 human atlases (dried bones of adults). For each atlas, we studied the existence and morphology of the ponticles, and the type of association of these three ponticles on a given side, which are theoretically of eight in number (types A-H). The occurrence of these ponticles varied from complete absence to constant presence, according to the genera and taxa of primates. The presence of each of these ponticles in primates can be interpreted as a primitive or plesiomorphic character, and their absence as a derived or apomorphic character. The strepsirhines-platyrrhines-cercopithecines group, presenting a predominant primitive pattern (type A), appeared to be separated from the colobines-hominoids group, presenting predominant derived patterns (type C in colobines, Pongo pygmaeus, and Pan troglodytes, and the more derived type D in Hylobates, Gorilla gorilla, and Homo sapiens). The last derived stage, corresponding to the disappearance of the three atlantal ponticles (type H), was only observed in some individuals in hominoids. A marked intraspecific polymorphism characterized the hominoids. The presence of lateral and dorsal ponticles in humans appeared to correspond to their persistence within the progressive disappearance of the atlantal ponticles, constituting an evolutionary tendency characteristic of primates and particularly of hominoid evolution.

The intermetatarsal articular facet of the first metatarsal bone in humans: a derived trait unique within primates.

The occurrence and morphology of an intermetatarsal facet of the first metatarsal bone have been investigated in a series of 306 nonhuman primates representative of 40 genera, and in a series of 412 human metatarsal bones (dried bones) (215 left, 197 right). In nonhuman primates, no case of intermetatarsal facet was observed in the 306 first metatarsal bones studied. In humans, a well-defined intermetatarsal facet was observed in 127 out of the 412 bones (30.8%); no significant difference was observed between the left and right sides. The shape of the facet was elliptical, more or less elongated; it had a mean major axis (height) of 10.7 mm, and a mean minor axis (width) of 6.1 mm (extremes: 5 x 3 mm and 17 x 10 mm). The facet was located in the dorsal third of the lateral side of the first metatarsal in 103 out of 127 cases (81.1%), and in the middle third in 24 out of 127 cases (18.9%); it was never observed in the plantar third. The intermetatarsal facet was in connection with the proximal articular facet for the medial cuneiform in 68 out of 127 cases (53.5%), and it was separated from the proximal facet by a small nonarticular area or groove in 59 out of 127 cases (46.5%). The present observations suggest that the human first intermetatarsal facet is a derived trait unique within primates (autapomorphy) which is present in approximately one third of individuals. The appearance of this new articular facet in human evolution seems clearly related to the morphological modifications of the foot due to the acquisition of bipedalism, and more particularly to the loss of abductability of the hallux and its permanent adduction.

[About the 350th anniversary of the foundation of the chair of anatomy of the faculty of medicine at Strasbourg (1652-2002)]. / Autour du 350ème anniversaire de la création de la chaire d'anatomie de la Faculté de Medecine de Strasbourg (1652-2002).

Some historical and bibliographical elements are given at the occasion of the 350th anniversary of the foundation of the chair of anatomy at Strasbourg. Strasbourg played an important role in the dissemination of the anatomical knowledge in the end of the 15th and the first half of the 16th century. In 1517, the first official human dissection organized in Strasbourg was performed. In 1652, a specific chair of anatomy founded, and the first holder was J. A. Sebiz (1614-1685). In 1670, an anatomical lecture theatre was created. Strasbourg became a French town in 1681 with no modification of the university and of the chair of anatomy. In 1872, after the annexation of Alsace, a new German university was founded ; normal anatomy and pathology were separated and each chair attached to a particular institute. In 1919, when the Faculty of Medicine was reorganized after Alsace was restored to France, specific chairs and institutes were founded for histology and embryology. Among the famous morphologists and scientists who worked in Strasbourg were in anatomy : H. Brunschwig (?-1534), W. H. Ryff (c. 1505-1548), J. Winter von Andernach (1497-1574), T. Lauth (1758-1826), F. D. Reisseissen (1773-1828), J. F. Lobstein (1777-1835), E. A. Lauth (1803-1837), E. Koeberlé (1828-1915), E. Beaunis (1830-1921), H. D. Bouchard (1833-1899), J. G. Joessel (1838-1892), W. Waldeyer (1836-1921), G. Schwalbe (1844-1916), W. Pfitzner (1853-1903), F. Keibel (1861-1929), A. Forster (1878-1957), and P. Bellocq (1888-1962) ; in pathology : F. D. von Rechlinghausen (1833-1910), H. Chiari (1851-1916), J. G. Mönckeberg (1877-1925), P. Masson (1880-1959), and L. Géry (1883-1957) ; in histology : P. Bouin (1870-1962), M. Aron (1892-1974), R. Courrier (1895-1986), and M. Klein (1905-1975) ; in embryology : P. Ancel (1873-1961), P. Vintemberger (1891-1983), J. Benoit (1896-1982), E. Wolff (1904-1996), and J. Clavert (1912-1994).

The human mandible in lateral view: elliptical fourier descriptors of the outline and their morphological analysis.

An original procedure based on new developments in elliptical Fourier methods associated with image analysis technics was applied to 117 human mandibles in lateral view (69 males, 48 females) in order to analyze interindividual variability and sexual dimorphism. Original parameters, called elliptical Fourier descriptors, allowed for the quantification of the shape of an outline irrespective of its morphological complexity, and provided a precise individual characterization. The use of step by step reconstructions with an increasing number of harmonics allowed for demonstration of the morphological contributions of the elliptical Fourier descriptors, and relationships to precise anatomical features were established. The first harmonics (1st to 8th) described the general mandibular shape, and the later harmonics (8th to 14th) characterized accessory and finer morphological features. The proportion of individuals presenting significant sexual dimorphism was 97.1% in males and 91.7% in females, and after size normalization 84.1% in males and 81.2% in females. Even after removal of the size component, these results in regard to mandibular dimorphism remained better than those found by classical approaches; this could be due to the use of elliptical Fourier analysis which takes into account all the information of the mandibular outline. Compared to the size component, the shape component seemed to be more important in the sexual dimorphism of the human mandible than previously recognized. The present approach opens interesting anthropological and clinical perspectives for the characterization of mandibular morphology.