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Brief communication: Bilateral aplasia of the condyles in a 1,400‐year‐old mandible from Israel
Author(s) -
Nagar Yossi,
Arensburg Baruch
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-8644(200001)111:1<135::aid-ajpa8>3.0.co;2-c
Subject(s) - hemifacial microsomia , mandible (arthropod mouthpart) , condyle , medicine , anatomy , muscles of mastication , aplasia , mastication , masticatory force , orthodontics , temporomandibular joint , biology , craniofacial , botany , psychiatry , genus
A rare pathological mandible, manifesting bilateral absence of the condyles, is discussed. The pathology was identified as hemifacial microsomia. The mandible, dated to the Byzantine period in Israel, manifests bilateral aplasia of the condyles and extreme shortness, but normal width, of the body. The extremely well‐developed coronoid process, the grooved masseter insertion area, and the manifestation of a medial pterygoid tubercle (MPT) suggest hypertrophy of the occlusal muscles. The presence of a large MPT is considered a Neandertal autapomorphy. Studying the biomechanic forces acting on the deformed mandible in hemifacial microsomia patients may shed light on the mastication process in Neandertals. Am J Phys Anthropol 111:135–139, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.