The size and shape of the jaws are related to occlusion and masticatory muscle function. Teeth and muscles are considered the functional matrix for the two jaws. Existing studies did not focus on the relationship between maxillary and mandibular base but just on their absolute dimension. As the relationship between the two is of interest to orthodintists, the aim of this study was to calculate the maxillary-mandibular ratio in individuals from Central Italy and to compare it to that of ancient skulls from the same geographic area. Forty individuals from Opi, a small village in Central Italy, and 40 ancient skulls from the same region were the samples of this study. The lengths of the mandibular and maxillary base were assessed on lateral cephalograms; the m-m ratio was calculated, and the measurements of the two samples were comparated. Due to a significantly shorter maxillary base in the modern human sample, the m-m ratio was significantly lower in these subjects. This finding supports the hypothesis that the growth of the skull is strongly modulated by the functional matrix, within wich a morphologic units develops.
Maxillary and mandibular base size in ancient skulls and of modern humans from Opi, Abruzzi, Italy: a cross-sectional study.
FESTA, Felice;CAPASSO, LUIGI;D'ANASTASIO, RUGGERO;CAPUTI, Sergio;
2010-01-01
Abstract
The size and shape of the jaws are related to occlusion and masticatory muscle function. Teeth and muscles are considered the functional matrix for the two jaws. Existing studies did not focus on the relationship between maxillary and mandibular base but just on their absolute dimension. As the relationship between the two is of interest to orthodintists, the aim of this study was to calculate the maxillary-mandibular ratio in individuals from Central Italy and to compare it to that of ancient skulls from the same geographic area. Forty individuals from Opi, a small village in Central Italy, and 40 ancient skulls from the same region were the samples of this study. The lengths of the mandibular and maxillary base were assessed on lateral cephalograms; the m-m ratio was calculated, and the measurements of the two samples were comparated. Due to a significantly shorter maxillary base in the modern human sample, the m-m ratio was significantly lower in these subjects. This finding supports the hypothesis that the growth of the skull is strongly modulated by the functional matrix, within wich a morphologic units develops.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
