Additional manal and pedal epiphyseal centres.
One hundred and thirty-six well-preserved medieval skeletons were excavated in advance of re-development in Norwich. Examination of sub-adult hand and feet bones indicated a high percentage of accessory epiphyses. The majority could be identified by traces of a fusion line. The distal first metacarpal and first metatarsal being the preferred sites. Such additional epiphyses have rarely been reported in archaeological samples and the findings are in strong contrast to the figures quoted in modern anatomical texts. The possible reasons for this apparent variation are discussed.
Anderson
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001846:Bone Development; D002648:Child; D004739:England; D004838:Epiphyses / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D008663:Metacarpus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008684:Metatarsus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009027:Mortuary Practice / Q000266:history; D010164:Paleopathology