Hyperostosis frontalis interna, a genetic disease?: Two medieval cases from Southern Poland.

Two cases of thickening of the internal tables of the frontal bones (hyperostosis frontalis interna, (HFI)) have been examined. These were two female skeletons from the 16th century Dominican Church in Raciborz (Southwest Poland). The similarity of their morphological and metrical traits indicates that they could be related, and suggests that HFI is likely to have a genetic base.

Trace element analysis of Bronze Age skeletal and crematory graves from southern Poland for diet reconstruction.

The basic aim of the present study was to determine the diet of human populations dating from the Bronze Age and the time of Roman influence. The osseous material under examination came from skeletal and crematory burials of the Lusatian and Przeworks Cultures, found in a cemetery at Opatów, Klobuck District, Silesian Province. Three elements: strontium, zinc and calcium were chosen as basic diet determinants.

The morphological evaluation of frontal sinuses in the human skulls.

Using cranial radiographs of 214 skulls representing white population, morphological features (size and shape) of the frontal sinuses were evaluated and compared with data on Eskimo and Indian series representing yellow population. In both populations, white and yellow, the sinuses are better developed and are usually larger in men than in women. The sinuses of smooth contour are usually smaller than those with serrated contour, and in case of the first ones, the left one is missing.