Sherwood R J
Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
J Morphol. 1999 Aug;241(2):127-37. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-4687(199908)241:2<127::AID-JMOR3>3.0.CO;2-P.
The ontogeny of human temporal bone pneumatization has been well studied from both comparative and clinical perspectives. While a difference in the extent of air cell distribution has been noted in our closest living relatives, chimpanzees and gorillas, the processes responsible have been relatively unexplored. To examine these processes, a large, age-graded series of hominoid skulls was radiographed and the progress of pneumatization recorded. Additionally, a subsample of 30 chimpanzees and 12 gorillas was subjected to high-resolution CT scanning. Neonatal specimens show a well-developed mastoid antrum, as well as a capacious hypotympanum extending into the petrous apex. In African apes, as in humans, the mastoid antrum serves as the focus for air cell expansion into the mastoid and immediately adjacent areas. In chimpanzees and gorillas, however, a pronounced lateral structure, described as the squamous antrum, serves as the focus of pneumatization for anterior structures such as the squamous and zygomatic. The diminution of this structure in Homo sapiens explains the difference in air cell distribution in these regions.
从比较和临床的角度，人类颞骨气化的个体发生过程已得到充分研究。虽然在我们现存的近亲黑猩猩和大猩猩中，已注意到气房分布范围存在差异，但导致这种差异的过程相对未被探索。为了研究这些过程，对一系列按年龄分级的大型类人猿头骨进行了X光摄影，并记录了气化进程。此外，对30只黑猩猩和12只大猩猩的子样本进行了高分辨率CT扫描。新生儿标本显示乳突窦发育良好，以及一个宽大的下鼓室延伸至岩尖。与人类一样，在非洲猿类中，乳突窦是气房向乳突及紧邻区域扩展的中心。然而，在黑猩猩和大猩猩中，一种明显的侧向结构，即鳞状窦，是鳞状骨和颧骨等前部结构气化的中心。智人中这种结构的减少解释了这些区域气房分布的差异。
