title: Craniovertebral junction malformation in Northeastern Brazil: the myth of the Dutch colonization.
abstract: The high prevalence of craniovertebral junction malformation in Northeastern Brazil is historically associated with brachycephalic biotype (flat head), also common in this region. It has been postulated that this trait was introduced to this region by the Dutch during the colonial period in Brazil's history. Based on the confrontation of this paradigm against some historical facts, the authors concluded that the brachycephalic phenotype was inherited from prehistoric ancestors (Amerindians) who were already living in this region when white European men arrived.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program on Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE, Brazil. vidal-claudio@ig.com.br
authors.forename: Claudio Henrique Fernandes
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.forename: Joacil Carlos da
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Cícero José Pacheco
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lins
authors.forename: Alessandra Mertens
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Brainer-Lima
authors.forename: Marcelo Moraes
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Valença
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D018595:Colonialism / Q000266:history*; D003398:Craniosynostoses / Q000208:ethnology / Q000266:history*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D063426:Human Migration / Q000266:history; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American / Q000208:ethnology; D009426:Netherlands / Q000208:ethnology; D012886:Skull / Q000002:abnormalities*; D013131:Spine / Q000002:abnormalities*; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology