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Skeletal biology over the life span: A view from the surfaces
Author(s) -
Gosman James H.,
Stout Samuel D.,
Larsen Clark Spencer
Publication year - 2011
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.21612
Subject(s) - biology , life span , bone development , biological anthropology , evolutionary biology , developmental biology , focus (optics) , human biology , interpretation (philosophy) , mainstream , foundation (evidence) , physiology , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , anthropology , computer science , sociology , history , philosophy , endocrinology , theology , archaeology , physics , optics , programming language
The biocultural interpretation of skeletal remains is based upon the foundation of skeletal biology. In this review we examine the current state of skeletal biology research outside of the mainstream anthropology literature. The focus is on the structural changes of bone development and growth, and modeling and repair in the four bone surfaces: periosteal, Haversian, endosteal, and trabecular. The pattern of skeletal changes is placed within the framework of the human life span. New perspectives and direction of research on the environmental, biological, and genetic influences on modeling and remodeling processes are discussed chronologically at each bone surface. Implications for biological anthropologists are considered. This approach emphasizes variation in skeletal biology as a dynamic record of development, maturity, and aging. Yrbk Phys Anthropol 54:86–98, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.