Chapter XXXVII: Munsee Crania: Pterygo-Basal Foramina;

POSTERIOR CONDYLIC FORAMINA

------------------------+----------+----------
| 7 males |12 females
+-----+----+-----+----
|Cases|Per |Cases|Per
| |cent| |cent
------------------------+-----+----+-----+----
None or only a trace | 3 | 43 | 11 | 92
Pterygo-spinous complete| | | |
on left, four-fifths | | | |
on right | 1 | 14 | — | —
Pterygo-spinous | | | |
incomplete, both sides | 1 | 14 | 1 | 8
Incomplete | | | |
pterygo-sphenoidal, | | | |
left side | 1 | 14 | — | —
Complete | | | |
pterygo-sphenoidal on | | | |
left (absent on right) | 1 | 14 | — | —
------------------------+----------+----------
| 5 males |12 females
+-----+----+-----+----
|Cases|Per |Cases|Per
| |cent| |cent
------------------------+-----+----+-----+----
Two, normal | 3 | 60 | 12 | 100
Left absent | 1 | 20 | — | —
| | | |
Right, | | | |
diminutive | 1 | 20 | — | —
+-----------------------+-----+----+-----+----

_Posterior condylic foramina._—These are canals which transmit the posterior condylic vein and are of interest only because of their more or less frequent absence from one or both sides in different racial groups. In the Munsee they are exceptionally normal, as will be seen from the preceding figures.

MISCELLANEOUS ANOMALIES

In addition to the peculiarities shown in the preceding paragraphs, the Munsee skulls present a number of anomalous conditions which deserve to be mentioned.

In male skull no. 285,306 the right occipital condyle is flat, the left being normal; there was no injury or arthritis.

In male skull no. 285,326 there is an accessory facet posteriorly to the left condyle.

In female skull no. 285,311 there are two moderate precondylar tubercles.

In male skull no. 285,313 and female skull no. 285,312 there is a moderate medio-basilar (“pharyngeal”) fossa.

In female skull no. 285,320 the carotid canals in the petrous parts are usually large, measuring 7 mm. in major diameter.

In female skull no. 285,311 a canal, 6 by 4.5 mm., is present just posteriorly to the right angular process, in the frontal bone and the spheno-frontal suture.

Finally, there is a series of anomalies relating to the spinous and oval foramina. They are as follows:

Male skull no. 285,303: The median wall of the left foramina spinosum and ovale is deficient.

Female skull no. 285,310: Median wall of right spinous foramen deficient.

Female skull no. 285,347: Median wall of left spinous foramen deficient.

Female skull no. 285,320: Median wall of each spinous foramen deficient.

Female skull no. 285,323: Right foramina spinosum and ovale connected, and the median wall of both deficient.

Female skull no. 285,311: The left foramen ovale is unusually large, 8.5 by 4.5 mm., while the right is enormous, 10 by 8 mm. (pl. 21).

THE TEETH

_Dentition._—Of the 22 skulls of Munsee adults at hand it is possible to ascertain the state of dentition in 14. In 11 of these cases there were 32 teeth in each, while in three there were 31. The congenital deficiency consisted in one case of the third left upper molar; in the second, the third left upper molar is completely absent, while the right corresponding tooth is rudimentary; and in the third there is a congenital absence of the left lower lateral incisor, while on the right side we find the very rare condition of a complete fusion of the lower lateral incisor and the canine (pl. 22).

_Loss and decay._—Teeth lost through caries and the presence of decay are common in this series, more so than in other Indian groups. Among the males, 13 per cent of all the teeth were lost in life, while 12 per cent of those still present show more or less decay; among the females 21 per cent were lost in life and 16 per cent of those present show caries—this notwithstanding the fact that the average age of the female skulls was less than that of the males. The teeth lost or affected were mostly the molars, especially those in the lower jaw.

_Wear._—In every instance the remaining teeth show more or less pronounced effects of wear. Where the wear is advanced, it is generally also irregular. The detailed notes show that the wear is slight in eight, moderate in five, and advanced in nine of the 22 specimens.

_Size, quality, shovel-shaped incisors._—In size the Munsee teeth in all cases are medium. Where not decayed or worn off they show invariably regular and normal development. The upper incisors present in every case the cingulum which gives their lingual surface a more or less pronounced shovel-shaped character, common to and characteristic of all Indians, with rare individual exceptions.

BASE OF FEMALE SKULL NO. 285,311, U.S.N.M. (BRACHYCEPHALIC EXTRANEOUS), FOUND AMONG THE MUNSEE BURIALS, SHOWING EXCESSIVE SIZE OF THE FORAMINA OVALE, ESPECIALLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE]

LOWER JAW OF FEMALE MUNSEE SKULL NO. 285,307, U.S.N.M., SHOWING COMPLETE FUSION OF THE RIGHT LOWER LATERAL INCISOR AND CANINE]

_Anomalies._—The anomalies of the teeth are always of considerable interest, being mainly either reversive or degenerative (progressively) in character. The skulls observed indicate the following conditions:

Male no. 285,301: A small supernumerary tooth between and on the labial side of the left lower second and third molars. The lateral upper incisors in this skull are somewhat abnormal lingually, their surface appearing as if rolled together from side to side, so that the tooth is cylindrical in form and its shovel-like hollow has become almost a cavity.

In male no. 285,303: The third right upper molar is diminutive.

In male no. 285,305: The third lower right molar is impacted, its vertical axis tending forward and upward.

In male no. 285,326: The third right upper molar is diminutive.

In female no. 285,305 is present the aforementioned fusion of the right lower lateral incisor and canine. The resultant tooth appears like a broad stout incisor (pl. 22).

In female no. 285,310: The crown of the right lower third molar is unusually large (13.5 mm. long by 12 mm. broad) and looks like that of a fused double tooth, but both first and second molars are present. The opposite tooth is also larger than ordinary, but the upper corresponding teeth are normal.

Finally, in no. 285,311 the third right upper molar is rudimentary.

_Cuspids._—Many of the molars present were so worn that a determination of their cuspid formulæ was impossible. The better preserved teeth showed the interesting conditions detailed in the following table: