Pithecanthropus erectus

PITHECANTHROPUS ERECTUS

About 1.8 Ma, the first group of ancient human ancestors, Homo erectus, migrated from Africa to Eurasia(2014MatsubayashiK). As they spread, part of the population colonized the islands of Southwest Asia, in particular the Malay Archipelago. In 1891-1892, on the island of Java, Eugène Dubois (1858-1940) excavated the remains of an «old female» whom he named Pithecanthropus erectus (2004DeVosJ). Anthropologists also call this individual: Anthropopithecus erectus, Homo erectus, and Java Man (2000SwisherIIICC_LewinR; 2024PopE_SpoorF). The discovered skull fragment and molar allowed to reconstruct the appearance of Pithecanthropus erectus.

Early Pithecanthropus from Java Island (Sangiran-17), about 1 million years old, reconstruction by M.L. Butovskaya; State Darwin Museum (Moscow), photo by the author.

The soil layer that preserved the mentioned Homo erectus specimen is dated in the range from 0.54±0.10 to 0.43±0.05 Ma (2015JoordensJC_RoebroeksW). A notable component of the find was a fragment of the femur.

Femur and teeth of Pithecanthropus from Java Island; State Darwin Museum (Moscow), photo by the author.

At the same time, the fossil fragment had a huge ossification at the attachment site of the short adductor muscle, m. adductor brevis (sketchfab.com). Such benign neoplasms are usually the result of the replacement of hematoma or muscle tissue with fibrous tissue, which later transforms into bone tissue. Hemorrhage and calcification of the adductor muscle group in Java Man occurred either from a direct blow to the medial surface of the thigh or due to chronic microtraumatization with ruptures of muscle fibers. The latter variant appears in the literature as «adductor insertion avulsion syndrome» causing traction periostitis, a bone reaction to stress, and a hip fracture (2001Anderson MW_DussaultRG).

Pithecanthropus experienced pain and limited movement in the hip joint, which complicated stalking prey during hunting, climbing trees for fruit, and walking. Its ability to move on two pelvic limbs is evidenced by the fossa of the head of the femur - the attachment area of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). Based on the size and depth of the femoral head fossa, the LCF of Pithecanthropus of Java was a powerful structure. It seems to us that it was adapted to withstand significant tensile (pulling out of the bone) loads when jumping and running during hunting.

Femoral head and fovea capitis of the Pithecanthropus of Java; State Darwin Museum (Moscow), photo by the author.

References

Matsubayashi K. Geriatric issues from the standpoint of human evolution. Geriatrics & Gerontology International. 2014;14(4)731-4. [pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

De Vos J. The Dubois collection: a new look at an old collection. Scripta Geologica. 2004;Special Issue,4:267-85. [repository.naturalis.nl]

Swisher III CC, Curtis GH, Lewin R. Java Man: How Two Geologists Changed Our Understanding of Human Evolution. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000. [books.google]

Pop E, Noerwidi S, Spoor F. Naming Homo erectus: A review. Journal of Human Evolution. 2024;190:103516. [sciencedirect.com]

Joordens JC, d’Errico F, Wesselingh FP, Munro S, De Vos J, Wallinga J, ... Roebroeks W. Homo erectus at Trinil on Java used shells for tool production and engraving. Nature. 2015;518(7538)228-31. [nature.com]

Anderson MW, Kaplan PA, Dussault RG. Adductor insertion avulsion syndrome (thigh splints): spectrum of MR imaging features. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2001;177:673-5. [ajronline.org]

Keywords

ligamentum capitis femoris, ligamentum teres, ligament of head of femur, doctrine, homo, pithecanthropus

The original text in Russian is available at the link: Pithecanthropus erectus

NB! Fair practice / use: copied for the purposes of criticism, review, comment, research and private study in accordance with Copyright Laws of the US: 17 U.S.C. §107; Copyright Law of the EU: Dir. 2001/29/EC, art.5/3a,d; Copyright Law of the RU: ГК РФ ст.1274/1.1-2,7

BLOG CONTENT

999–10 Kya

Comments

Inferior Portal

Original in Russian is available at the link: Нижний портал , below is a machine translation edited by a non-native speaker. Inferior portal FOR HIP ARTHROSCOPY: A PILOT STUDY Arkhipov S.V., Independent Researcher, Joensuu, Finland Introduction Hip arthroscopy is considered a complex and expensive surgical procedure (2015SalasAP). However, it provides a dynamic and accurate assessment of the hip joint, and is recognized as the gold standard for diagnostics (2018JamilM_WittJ). Hip arthroscopy may be one of the last frontiers in sports medicine (2019MaldonadoDR_DombBG). Fig. 1. Compartments of the hip joint (schematic); the central compartment is highlighted in red, the peripheral compartment is highlighted in blue (from 1892PoirierPJ , unchanged). Traditionally, arthroscopic surgeons of the hip joint distinguish three compartments: the central compartment, the peripheral compartment, and the lateral compartment outside the joint, also known as the peritro...

THE DOCTRINE OF LCF

THE DOCTRINE OF ligamentum capitis femoris: An instrument of knowledge and innovation. Definition: A set of theoretical provisions on all aspects of knowledge about the anatomical element ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). 1. Structure of the Doctrine of LCF 2. Practical Application of the Doctrine of LCF : 2.1. Diagnostics 2.1. Prevention 2.3. Prognosis 2.4. Pathology 2.5. Veterinary 2.6. Professions 2.7. Products 2.8. Surgery 3. Theory of LCF Mechanics 4. The Base of the Doctrine of LCF 5. Stairway to the Past or History of the Doctrine of LCF 6. Ultimate Depth of Researches 7. Appendices 7.1. Acceptable Synonyms Structure of the Doctrine of ligamentum capitis femoris . E a r T ...

NEWS

New publications of our resource ( section started June 04, 2024 ) January 18, 2025 Inferior portal. Article: Arkhipov SV. Inferior portal for Hip Arthroscopy: A Pilot Study (2025). Tweet of January 18, 2025 1878MarshallJ The author discusses the anatomy and briefly the role of the LCF. January 11, 2025 Acetabular Canal. Part 1. This article describes the space where the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) attaches and functions. See also Part 2 and Part 3 . January 10, 2025 1877MorrisH An excerpt from an article noting that the LCF is stretched during flexion, adduction, external rotation, and is always torn during hip dislocations. January 8, 2025 1877BrookeC Report and discussion on Henry Morris's paper Dislocations of the Thigh: their mode of occurrence as indicated by experiments, and the Anatomy of the Hip-joint, with mentioning the role played by LCF. January 7, 2025 Tweet of Janu...

1844CruveilhierJ

Fragments from the book Cruveilhier J. The Anatomy of the Human Body (1844). The author discusses the anatomy and role of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). Quote p. 94 The head (i, figs. 49 and 50) is the most regularly spheroidal of all the eminences in the skeleton, and forms nearly two thirds of a sphere. In the middle of it we observe a rough depression (k) of variable dimensions, which gives attachment to the round ligament. Quote pp. 159-162 COXO-FEMORAL ARTICULATION (fig. 76). Preparation. Remove with care all the muscles that surround the joint, preserving the reflected tendon of the rectus femoris. The psoas and iliacus muscles, the synovial capsule of which so often communicates with the articular synovial membrane, must be removed with particular care. After the fibrous capsule has been studied upon its external surface, a circular division should be made round its middle portion, for the purpose of uncovering the deep-situated parts. This articulation is the ...

LCF in 2024 (December)

Publications about the LCF 2024 ( Dece mber) Kneipp, M. L. A., Sousa, L. N., Cota, L. O., Malacarne, B. D., Winter, I. C., Santana, C. H., ... & Carvalho, A. M. (2024). Bilateral coxofemoral dysplasia in a Mangalarga Marchador foal. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science , 105253. [i] sciencedirect.com Siddiq, B. S., Gillinov, S. M., Cherian, N. J., & Martin, S. D. (2024). Arthroscopic Reconstruction of the Acetabular Labrum Using an Autograft Hip Capsule. JBJS Essential Surgical Techniques , 14 (4), e23. [ii] pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Kraft, D. B., Delahay, J. N., & Murray, R. S. (2024). Pediatric Orthopedics. In Essentials of Orthopedic Surgery (pp. 139-185). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland. [iii] link.springer.com Gebriel, M. E., Farid, M., Mostafa, A., Shaker, N., Abouelela, Y., & Noor, N. (2024). The Surgical Anatomy of Canine Coxofemoral Joint and Innovative Educational...

2024MiglioriniF_MaffulliN

Abstract and table 4 ( overview of LCF tear classification ) of the article Migliorini F et al. The ligamentum teres and its role in hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement: a systematic review. (2024). Translation into Russian is available at the link: 2024MiglioriniF_MaffulliN . Systematic Review / Open access / Published: 20 December 2024 The ligamentum teres and its role in hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement: a systematic review Filippo Migliorini, Federico Cocconi, Tommaso Bardazzi, Virginia Masoni, Virginia Gardino, Gennaro Pipino, Nicola Maffulli Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology volume 25, Article number: 68 (2024) Abstract Background The ligamentum teres (LT) has received attention in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy (HA) for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Indeed, a better understanding of the function of the LT and its implications for cli...

1917TrevesF_MackenzieC

Fragments from the book Treves F, Keith A, Mackenzie C. Surgical Applied Anatomy, 7th ed. (1917). The author discusses the strength and significance of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) and its changes in hip dislocations and dysplasia. Quote pp. 542-543 3. THE HIP-JOINT … The manner in which the various movements at the hip are limited may be briefly expressed as follows: The limit of every natural movement is fixed by the extensibility of the muscles which surround a joint. That is readily seen at the hip-joint, for when the knee is extended, and the hamstring muscles thus tightened, flexion at the hip is limited long before the ligaments become tense. Ligaments only come into play when the muscular defence of the joint breaks down. Flexion, when the knee is bent, is limited by the contact of the soft parts of the groin. Extension, by the ilio-psoas, rectus femoris, and the ilio-femoral or Y -ligament. Abduction, by the adductor mass of muscles and the pubo-capsular l...

1747PlatnerJZ

Fragments of the book by J.Z. Platner « Institutiones Chirurgiae rationalis ...» (1747) with mention of ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). The author describes the LCF as a durable structure that can be damaged by traumatic hip dislocations and also become pathologically altered: weakened, elongated, and disappear. The text is prepared for machine translation using a service built into the blog from Google or your web browser. In some cases, we have added links to quotations about LCF available on our resource, as well as to publications posted on the Internet. Quote p p . 432-433 §. 1192. Femur parte sua suprema habet magnum teretemque processum, qui oblique ad os coxæ procedit, quem cervicem appellant. Hæc cervix, intus rara & cavernosa, desinit in magnum & rotundissimum caput, cartilagine etiam mollitum, quod in sinum rotundum coxæ conjicitur. Sinus Anatomicis κοτύλη , vel acetabulum, vocatur, qui in junioribus ex tribus ossibus, quæ media cartilagine inter se co...

1877BrookeC

Report by Brooke C. and discussion of the article Dislocations of the Thigh: their mode of occurrence as indicated by experiments, and the Anatomy of the Hip-joint. By Henry Morris. M.A., M.B. (1877). In the discussion, Dr. Barwell remarked that: «He agreed with Mr. Morris in regarding the ligamentum teres as of little importance in the prevention of dislocation; it probably did little more than protect the vessels passing to the head of the bone. He saw a case some years ago, in which there was congenital absence of the ligamentum teres; but he had no reason for believing that the man was more liable to dislocation of the femur than other persons.» The author of the article, Henry Morris, suggested that Malgaigne «... did not attach much importance to the ligamentum teres; and believed that it had no power to hold the bone in its place.». ROYAL MEDICAL AND CHIRURGICAL SOCIETY. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY I3TH, 1877. CHARLES BROOKE, F.R.C.S., F.R.S., Vice-President, in the Chair. D...

Search This Blog