title: [Lucy's parturition, a way towards extinction?].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare pelvic cavities in australopithecines, modern humans and non-hominid primates in order to discuss the obstetrical mechanisms in australopithecines
  
  
  METHODS
  Bony pelves from fossil material (Australopithecus afarensis AL 288-1, Australopithecus africanus Sts14, Australopithecus Stw 431 and Mh2), 133 modern humans (82 adult females and 51 adult males) and 67 anthropoid primates (36 gorilla, 26 Pan troglodytes, 5 Pongo pygmaeus) were reconstructed and compared (shape and morphometric analysis) using 16 pelvimetric mesasurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pelves of australopithecines were characterized by lower anteroposterior (AP) and transverse (TRV) diameters in inlet pelvis than in other species. Index (AP/TRV) of pelvic inlet, midpelvis and pelvic outlet in the australopithecines were the lowest (<100) and the pelvic shape was platypelloid. A logarithmic factorial analysis showed that the pelvic morphology of australopithecines was different from humans and non-hominid primates but nearer the humans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In contrast with apes where obstetrical mechanics seem to be easier, and because of platypelloidy, mechanism of birth in australopithecines was as difficult as in modern homo sapiens. Birth without cesarean was probably possible in an asynclitic TRV orientation.
authors.affiliation: Département de gynécologie-obstétrique et médecine de la reproduction, 2, avenue Albert-Raimond, 42023 Saint-Étienne, France. chenegautier@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chene
authors.forename: A-S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Tardieu
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Trombert
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Raia-Barjat
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amouzougan
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Patural
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Seffert
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Coppens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005580:Fossils; D015186:Hominidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D036801:Parturition; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011323:Primates / Q000033:anatomy & histology
keywords: Anthropologie; Anthropology; Bassin; Evolution; Obstetrics; Obstétrique; Pelvis; Évolution