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CT comparative study of the nasolacrimal angle as a surrogate measure of prognathism in primate and non‐primate species
Author(s) -
Gregg Michael,
Palma Douglas,
Delman Bradley N.,
Marquez Samuel
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.649.2
Subject(s) - nasolacrimal duct , anatomy , primate , skull , meatus , prognathism , cadaveric spasm , hard palate , craniofacial , biology , medicine , orthodontics , dentistry , surgery , osteotomy , paleontology , genetics
Previous studies suggested the path of the nasolacrimal duct (NLD) to be strongly influenced by the shape of the skull. While other studies have focused on intra‐species variation, this comparative study used a wide spectrum of mammalian species that include human, Old World monkeys, domesticated cow, pig and four dogs. Normal and CT with contrast studies were performed on the human and dog sample with patients presenting with normal and pathologic nasal conditions. The course of NLD was charted radiographically with gross dissections made upon the other cadaveric material. External NLD angle was determined by the intersection of a line that overlapped NLD path to the line represented by hard palate. Results showed non‐primate species (NPS) exhibited the largest positive NLD angles reaching values of positive 140 o versus negative 37 o seen in humans. The highly prognathic NPS groups has a NLD that passes through the lacrimal bone ‐ maxilla‐ but can rostrally emerge from its bony canal deep to the nasal mucosa at various openings in the nasal region ‐ cow and pig opening occurs near mucocutaneous junction of nares; dog occurs near ventral nasal meatus. Primates presented with a NLD common drainage opening at the inferior meatus probably due to the relative prognathic reduction shared among this group. Results suggest that NLD angles may be used for determining the degree of prognathism exhibited in living and extinct primates. Grant Funding Source Do not have funding.