C Delteil1, E Lesieur2, L Tuchtan3, A Carballeira Alvarez4, K Chaumoitre5, B Saliba6, P Adalian6, M-D Piercecchi-Marti3. 1. Forensic Department, APHM, La Timone, 264, rue St Pierre, 13385 Marseille Cedex 05, France; Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, EFS, ADES, Marseille, France. Electronic address: clemence.delteil@ap-hm.fr. 2. Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Gynépole, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, AMU, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France. 3. Forensic Department, APHM, La Timone, 264, rue St Pierre, 13385 Marseille Cedex 05, France. 4. Department of Radiology, Conception Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, 147, boulevard Baille, 13005 Marseille Cedex 05, France. 5. Department of Radiology, CHU Nord, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Chemin des Bourrely, 13015 Marseille, France. 6. Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, EFS, ADES, Marseille, France.
Abstract
Ontogeny of the cranial base and the brain integrates data on growth, maturation and ontogenetic allometry of these two systems in the course of development. The aim of our work was to study the ontogeny of the cranial base and the brain in order to understand their growth dynamic and shape changes using a traditional morphometric approach in individuals with normal (non-pathological) development. MATERIEL AND METHOD: Forty-seven infants having been included in the unexpected infant death french protocol were analyzed. Medical imaging (CT and MRI) exams, followed by an autopsy and pathology examination allowed us to include only infants free from brain disease or pathology affecting growth. RESULTS: Testing of measurement reliability validated 12 distances and 3 angles as well as the positioning of the landmarks that had been used to obtain the distances and the angles. No correlation between sex and the various variables studied was found. However, a correlation was observed between these variables and age, making it possible to propose a growth curve. A medium to strong correlation was found between brain variables and the bone variables of the cranial base, underlining the parallel development of the two systems. CONCLUSION: Our study, carried out in a rigorously selected population of infants, presents a fundamental approach to the study of ontogenesis.
Ontogeny of the cranial base and the brain integrates data on growth, maturation and ontogenetic allometry of these two systems in the course of development. The aim of our work was to study the ontogeny of the cranial base and the brain in order to understand their growth dynamic and shape changes using a traditional morphometric approach in individuals with normal (non-pathological) development. MATERIEL AND METHOD: Forty-seven infants having been included in the unexpected infant death french protocol were analyzed. Medical imaging (CT and MRI) exams, followed by an autopsy and pathology examination allowed us to include only infants free from brain disease or pathology affecting growth. RESULTS: Testing of measurement reliability validated 12 distances and 3 angles as well as the positioning of the landmarks that had been used to obtain the distances and the angles. No correlation between sex and the various variables studied was found. However, a correlation was observed between these variables and age, making it possible to propose a growth curve. A medium to strong correlation was found between brain variables and the bone variables of the cranial base, underlining the parallel development of the two systems. CONCLUSION: Our study, carried out in a rigorously selected population of infants, presents a fundamental approach to the study of ontogenesis.