Studies in the osteology of the human foetus and infant: being an investigation into the length of the long bones of the skeleton at different ages, and into the special characters which they present

Abstract

The investigation which has led to the results herein described was commenced with a view to determine merely the relative lengths of the long bones of the human foetus at different stages of "its development. For this purpose a considerable number of specimens was collected together and measurements were taken, but, while examining the bones my attention was struck by certain constant peculiarities in the shape of several of the bones, especially about the articular ends of these of the lower extremity, features which are not present, as a rule, in the European adult but some of which are known to be present in the skeletons of the lower races of mankind, or of prehistoric man, and in apes.As a summary the following is a statement of my conclusions:-(1) At an early age the proportionate length of the bones is very different from what it is in the adult.(2) As development proceeds the adult proportions are gradually assumed, but even at birth the general tendency of the proportions as shown by the indices approximates towards that found in the apes.(3) The relative lengths are never similar to what is found in any one race of mankind; resembling one race- e.g., the Esquimaux- in one respect but differing from it in another(4) The configuration of the skeleton of the lowei limb presents some striking divergences from that of the adult and resembles in some respecjts the skeleton of the apes and of some prehis¬ toric people.(5) This peculiar configuration is not adapted to the erect attitude of the adult and becomes modified even before physical forces can come into play.(6) These differences may be ascribed either to a mechanical cause- intra-uterine attitude- or to a morphological cause. Further information is still required before this question can be settled