Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 16 February 1990:
Vol. 247. no. 4944, pp. 838 - 841
DOI: 10.1126/science.2305255
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Science, Vol 247, Issue 4944, 838-841
Copyright © 1990 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Endocranial features of Australopithecus africanus revealed by 2- and 3-D computed tomography

GC Conroy, MW Vannier, and PV Tobias

Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University Medical School, St. Louis, MO 63110.

The earliest hominid from South Africa, Australopithecus africanus, is known from only six specimens in which accurate assessment of endocranial capacity and cranial venous outflow pattern can be obtained. This places a severe limit on a number of hypotheses concerning early hominid evolution, particularly those involving brain-body size relationships and adaptations of the circulatory system to evolving upright posture. Advances in high-resolution two- and three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) now allow the inclusion of another important specimen to this list, MLD 37/38 from Makapansgat. A new computer imaging technique is described that "reconstructs" the missing portions of the endocranial cavity in order to determine endocranial capacity. In addition, CT evaluation allows assessment of cranial venous outflow pattern even in cases where the endocranial cavity is completely filled with stone matrix. Results show that endocranial capacity in this specimen is less than originally proposed and also support the view that gracile and robust australopithecines evolved different cranial venous outflow patterns in response to upright postures.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Cerebral blood flow and metabolism during exercise: implications for fatigue.
N. H. Secher, T. Seifert, and J. J. Van Lieshout (2008)
J Appl Physiol 104, 306-314
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Brain of LB1, Homo floresiensis.
D. Falk, C. Hildebolt, K. Smith, M. J. Morwood, T. Sutikna, P. Brown, Jatmiko, E. W. Saptomo, B. Brunsden, and F. Prior (2005)
Science 308, 242-245
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Human cerebral venous outflow pathway depends on posture and central venous pressure.
J Gisolf, J. J van Lieshout, K van Heusden, F Pott, W. J Stok, and J. M Karemaker (2004)
J. Physiol. 560, 317-327
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Endocranial Capacity in an Early Hominid Cranium from Sterkfontein, South Africa.
G. C. Conroy, G. W. Weber, H. Seidler, P. V. Tobias, A. Kane, and B. Brunsden (1998)
Science 280, 1730-1731
   Abstract »    Full Text »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)