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How to Build a 3D Model of a Fossil Hominin Vertebral Spine Based on Osseous Material

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Spinal Evolution

Abstract

Reconstruction of the spinal curvatures of extinct hominins is essential in order to understand their posture and function. Despite its importance, researchers face many difficulties in reconstructing spinal posture based solely on osseous material due to the absence of soft tissues.

In this chapter, we explain how to align two consecutive vertebrae in the absence of the intervertebral discs. Then we summarize and demonstrate the use of the current methods for estimating sacral orientation and spinal curvatures from osseous material. We also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each method. As an example, we demonstrate the application of these methods to the vertebral column of the Kebara 2 adult male Neandertal and present the 3D reconstruction of its spinal curvatures from the sacrum to the cervical spine.

Two methods—pelvic incidence (PI) and sacral anatomical angle (SAA)—are used to describe sacral orientation. Both methods are applicable when the pelvis is relatively complete. Three methods—lumbar vertebral body wedging (LVBW), inferior articular process angle (IAPA), and lumbar lordosis based on PI (LLPI)—are used to define lumbar lordosis. Two methods—thoracic vertebral body wedging (TVBW) and thoracic vertebral body height difference (TVBHD)—are used to estimate thoracic kyphosis. Finally, foramen magnum orientation (FMO) is used to reconstruct the cervical lordosis.

The calculated values for Kebara 2 are PI: 34°, SAA: 19°, IAPA: 25°, LLPI: 29°–36°, TVBHD: 44°, TVBW: 37°, FMO: 26°. Based on these calculations, we present here a complete reconstruction of the spine of Kebara 2 from the atlas to the sacrum. This is the first reconstruction of a complete vertebral spine that has been performed for a fossil hominin. Given anatomical variation, utilizing a combination of the methods is advised. The different methods are consistent with each other in each anatomical region and their combined use provides a more robust estimate.

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Acknowledgements

We thank M. Haeusler and M. Bastir for their useful comments in a previous version of this paper. AGO receives support from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (Project: CGL-2015-65387-C3-2-P, MINECO/FEDER), by the Spanish Ministerio deCiencia, Innovación y Universidades (project PGC2018-093925-BC33) and from the Research Group IT1418-19 from the Eusko Jaurlaritza-Gobierno Vasco.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sports Therapy, Faculty of Health Professions, Ono Academic College, Kiryat Ono, Israel

    Ella Been & Sara Shefi

  2. Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Ella Been & Tatiana Waintraub

  3. Departamento de Estratigrafía y Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain

    Asier Gómez-Olivencia

  4. IKERBASQUE. Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain

    Asier Gómez-Olivencia

  5. Centro Mixto UCM-ISCIII de Evolución y Comportamiento Humanos, Madrid, Spain

    Asier Gómez-Olivencia

  6. Department of Physical Therapy, Recanati School for Community Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel

    Leonid Kalichman

  7. Departments of Anthropology and Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Patricia Ann Kramer

  8. Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Michalle Soudack

  9. Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel

    Michalle Soudack

  10. The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Safed, Israel

    Alon Barash

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  1. Ella Been
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  2. Tatiana Waintraub
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  3. Asier Gómez-Olivencia
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  4. Leonid Kalichman
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  5. Patricia Ann Kramer
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  6. Sara Shefi
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  7. Michalle Soudack
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  8. Alon Barash
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sports Therapy, Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, Faculty of Health Professions, Ono Academic College, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Kiryat Ono, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Ella Been

  2. Departmento de Estratigrafía y Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU), IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain, Centro Mixto UCM-ISCIII de Evolución y, Comportamiento Humanos Avda. Monforte de Lemos, Leioa, Madrid, Spain

    Asier Gómez-Olivencia

  3. Departments of Anthropology and Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Patricia Ann Kramer

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Been, E. et al. (2019). How to Build a 3D Model of a Fossil Hominin Vertebral Spine Based on Osseous Material. In: Been, E., Gómez-Olivencia, A., Ann Kramer, P. (eds) Spinal Evolution. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19349-2_15

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