Journal of the Anthropological Society of Nippon

Allometry in Metacarpals and Phalanges Analyzed by Graph Theory

Shozo TAKAI, Harumi TERADA

1974 Volume 82 Issue 3 Pages 167-172
Published: November 30, 1974
Released on J-STAGE: June 28, 2010

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1537/ase1911.82.167

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Abstract Radiographic data of 47 boys and 42 girls were used to analyze the allometry system of the metacarpal and phalangeal bones in terms of “ graph theory ”. The degree of complete isometry and the clique in which component bones were in isometric relations were obtained from 19 × 19 equilibrium constant (α). The growth pattern of the middle phalanx of the fifth finger was quite different from that of other bones, and this fact coincides with the incidence of brachymesophalangia which is almost always found on the fifth finger in both sexes. In girls, the number of component bones in each clique was larger and the complete isometric relation was more complicated than that in boys. These results showed that the growth system of the bones was more homologous and more generalized in girls. Any signs of group factors were not recognized in any of the row or ray groups, but were shown in the neighboring groups from the viewpoint of the structure of cliques.

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The thickness of the hypodermic fatty layer of the youth in Okinawa prefecture, Japan

Seiichiro INOKUCHI, Sotaro IWAMOTO, Eun Cheoul PARK, Yoshinori HIGASHI

1974 Volume 82 Issue 3 Pages 173-188
Published: November 30, 1974
Released on J-STAGE: June 28, 2010

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1537/ase1911.82.173

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The thickness of the hypodermic fatty layer was measured on 329 subjects aged between 13 and 17 who were school boys and girls of high school and junior high school in Okinawa prefecture, Japan. The measurements were taken from 36 different points of the body and the results were compared with those taken from the persons of a similar age in the other prefecture of Japan and in the neighboring country.
The hypodermic fatty layer of the youth in Okinawa prefecture was thickest on the lower parts of the back (E8, E10, E12) by man, and also on the nipple part (B5) by female. On the other hand, its of the youth in the other country were larger on the proximal parts of the lower extremity (M20, M21) than on the points of E8 and E10.
Sex difference on the thickness of the subcutaneous fat became largely accompanying deve-lopment of age. This tendency were prominent at all parts of the back, the nipple part, the right side of the navel, the proximal extensor parts of the upper extremity, the shoulder and the proximal extensor part of the lower extremity.
Comparing the thickness of the hypodermic fatty layer of Okinawa-Japanese with those by Kumamoto-Japanese, Aomori-Japanese, Corean and Mongolian, former are thicker at the shoulder, the lower abdomen and the waist by man, at the shoulder, all parts of the back and extensor parts of the lower extremity by female than latters, which may be caused by their environment. The distribution pattern of hypodermic fatty layer of Okinawa-Japanese bear striking resemblance to the others, in order of Kumamoto-Japanese, Aomori-Japanese, Corean and Mongolian.

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On the Morphological and Functional Laterality in Human Extremities, Especially in the Lower Limb.

Kunihiko KIMURA, Sumiko ASAEDA

1974 Volume 82 Issue 3 Pages 189-207
Published: November 30, 1974
Released on J-STAGE: February 23, 2011

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1537/ase1911.82.189

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In the present paper, the morphological, and functional laterality in human extremities was considered based on two kinds of investigation ; a questionnaire one on the handedness and footedness in 272 students of a woman college of physical education, and an experimental one of somatological measurements and functions in each eight right and left handed subjects of them.
According to the questionnaire investigation the followings were found; In the upper limb, the conscious handed side takes an initiative role for the movement and the action. However, in the lower limb, the opposite side to the handedness seems to take a supporting role and the same side to take a functional one, respectively.
On the other hand, according to the morphological and functional experiment, both the upper and lower limbs showed morphologically and functionally an asymmetry, which was more considerable in the subcutaneous fat thickness and various functions, followed by the breadth of joints and the greatest girth than in the length of limb. That is, the differentiation of laterality seems to be more apparent in the soft tissues than in the skeleton, and functionally than morphologically. In the upper limb, the laterality was generally recognized in the same side of the handedness. In the lower limb, the same sided laterality with the handedness was observed in the measurements of lower thigh and foot, the strength of flexion and extension at the knee joint and the reaction time of the action of ankle joint. The opposite sided laterality to the handedness seen in the subcutaneous fat thickness also assured the same sided laterality of the function in lower limb to the handedness. At the same time, the lower limb seemed to show the opposite sided laterality to the handedness in the cooperative movement and action with the upper limb. That is, in the lower limb, the initiative laterality (the fo-otedness) seemed to be at the same side to the handedness.

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