Faculty of Health Sciences
School of Medicine
Department of Anatomy
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
A number of projects relating to the visit of Dr Maryna Steyn to a skeletal collection in Crete were completed. A paper has been accepted with regard to the presence and frequency of antemortem trauma in several modern populations, also comparing prevalence. Another paper was published that questions the necessity of using population-specific data when using measurements of the pelvis to determine sex.
Projects involving the assessment in accuracy when determining ancestry, including an MSc project, indicated that traditional morphological characteristics were shown to demonstrate high amounts of within-group variation and thus should not be used in forensic anthropological assessment of unknown remains. Another MSc project dealt with the histological and chemical differences between various species of animal and human bones. The chemical composition differed very little, but the morphology showed considerable variability between species.
A project relating to human skeletal remains found at Chloorkop was completed as part of development. The remains probably belonged to migrant labourers, and some interesting pathology was found.
Other master’s research included a study on tissue depths of South African black females for use in facial reconstruction. In addition, reconstructions were done using the newly developed tissue thicknesses for South Africans, as well as other published tissue thicknesses for non-South African populations. The effect of this was then tested in an identification parade. Another study examined the mandibular and maxillary canines, specifically dealing with their use in determining sex and ancestry.
PhD research was conducted on the use of the bones of the human hand in forensic applications. Formulae for the determination of sex and stature were developed, in addition to detailed techniques to identify the various smaller bones of the hand.
Pilot projects were conducted on the fracture patterns of dry vs wet bone (in collaboration with Prof J Kieser from Otago, New Zealand), while projects stemming from previous research on the human remains from Gladstone, Kimberley, were conducted in collaboration with Ms AE vd Merwe and Prof GJR Maat from Leiden University. These included an assessment of dentition and origin of the migrant labourers.
Contact person: Prof M Steyn.
An article by AC Oettlé, E Pretorius and M Steyn on the geometric morphometric analysis of the use of mandibular gonial eversion in sex determination was published in the journal Homo. It was cited as the third most accessed article from the journal. Slideworld cited an article by Resia Pretorius on the role of alternative and complementary treatments of asthma, as well as an article on acupuncture and electrotherapeutics research. An article by two postgraduate students, Nanette Oberholzer and Eureke Smit, was cited by Leads Discovery in England. A review of immunomodulators with a focus on the homeopathic product Canova® was published in Homeopathy.
Contact person: Prof E Pretorius.
Research by Mr Van Schoor highlighted the differences between neonatal and adult anatomy. It emphasised that neonates cannot be regarded as small adults specifically where invasive procedures, such as administration of regional anesthesia, are concerned. Rectal anatomy underlying surgical procedures was revisited by Dr Oettlé in order to reduce complications during proctoscopy, sigmoidoscopy and resection for rectal cancer.
Correlation studies between imaging and normal anatomy were conducted by Mrs Briers. The study on anatomical structures in the transverse sinus indicated that the presence of septae, trabeculae and arachnoid granulations may be responsible for venographic filling defects in as many as 53% of patients. It also showed that the right transverse sinus is at the highest risk for demonstrating potential venographic filling defects that may eventually result in a raise in intracranial dural venous pressure.
Contact person: Prof JH Meiring.
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