The acetabular crease is a linear indentation
located in the antero-superior quadrant of the surface of the acetabulum at the
level of the Byers 17 area. Considered by paleoanthropologists as a discrete
trait, it has received scarce attention and the mechanisms underlying its
formation and variations according to sex and age remain largely unclear. The
purpose of this study carried out on a large sample from a historical population
in France was to (i) analyze variations according to side, sex and estimated age
at death, (ii) assess diachronic variations, and (iii) compare prevalence in
various prehistoric and historical populations. Etiological mechanisms are
discussed.
Material
and method:
A total of hip bones from 425 subjects of both sexes and all ages were
studied. Specimens were from two historical populations dating from the 11th to
13th centuries and 16th to 17th centuries.
Results:
The proportion of subjects that died young was higher in the 11th to 13th
century group but the prevalence of the acetabular crease was comparable between
the two groups regardless of site or laterality (unilateral or bilateral). No
sexual dimorphism or correlation with age was noted at either period.
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