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Ossification in the hand and foot of the pigtail macaque ( Macaca nemestrina ). II. Order of appearance of centers and variability in sequence
Author(s) -
NewellMorris Laura,
Tarrant Lewis H.,
Fahrenbruch Carol E.,
Burbacher Thomas M.,
Sackett Gene P.
Publication year - 1980
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/ajpa.1330530313
Subject(s) - macaca nemestrina , biology , anatomy , macaque , rhesus macaque , wrist , evolutionary biology , genetics , neuroscience
The order of appearance of the carpals, tarsals and secondary epiphyseal centers in the hand‐wrist and foot‐ankle regions of the fetal and infant pigtail macaque ( Macaca nemestrina ) was reconstructed using a cross‐sectional sample of 127 animals and a longitudinal one of 14 animals. Comparison of the most common sequence in the monkey with that described in the human studies showed major interspecific differences in the order of appearance of several groups of centers, particularly those involving the thumb and great toe. The monkey displays a degree of sequence variability equivalent to that documented by the human longitudinal data, with certain centers markedly variable in timing and/or order of appearance. The evidence from related animals suggests a strong genetic component underlying some of the variable sequences observed, as has been reported in the human studies. The demonstrated variability in both timing and sequence precludes the use of specific centers in the determination of gestational age in fetuses of unknown conception date.