ABSTRACT
The thesis of this brief exposition is the absolute and immediate necessity of preserving existing osteological collections. Once lost, they can never be replaced. They are priceless, historically and culturally. Each collection is unique, in content and in scientific value. No one collection is complete, or replicates any other. These collections are separated by space and by time, by geography and by epoch. They preserve our past, as well as our understanding of human variation. They help us to better understand the human condition and contribute to the advancement of many disciplines including: anthropology, medicine, surgery, anatomy, history, and, undeniably, forensic anthropology. In spite of their uniqueness, all osteological collections face similar challenges: cultural norms and sensitivities, funding, space limitations, and competing priorities. This article provides a succinct overview of several private and public collections around the world, the challenges of preservation, and the benefits of their salvation. The skeletal collections described here are but a sample of what is, and of what may be lost. Anything more would require a book. Anything less would be an irreplaceable and tragic loss.
Subject(s)
Osteology , Forensic Anthropology , History, 18th Century , History, 19th Century , History, 20th Century , Humans , Museums , Osteology/history , UniversitiesABSTRACT
La osteología como práctica científica muestra, a través de su historia, los esfuerzos de los hombres de ciencia que pretendían explicar la entidad característica del hueso y sus procesos de formación. La extensión de esas investigaciones hace que se pierda el núcleo de lo que tiene la osteología de ciencia: las teorías osteológicas. Esta revisión historiográfica pretende con ayuda de la epistemología semántica presentar un esquema de red teórica que represente a algunos de esos modelos teóricos. (AU)
Osteology as a scientific practice shows through its history the efforts of scientists who tried to explain the characteristic entity of bone and its formation processes. The extension of these investigations causes that the nucleus of what the osteology of science has is lost: osteological theories. This historiographic review aims with the help of semantic epistemology to present a theoretical network scheme that represents some of these theoretical models. (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Osteogenesis , Bone and Bones/anatomy & histology , Osteology/history , Models, Theoretical , Philosophy, Medical , Bone Development , Knowledge , History, 20th CenturySubject(s)
Bone Diseases , Osteology/history , History, 20th Century , History, 21st Century , HumansABSTRACT
The type-species of Hyphessobrycon is redescribed and its osteology provided. Hyphessobrycon compressus is distinguished from its congeners by the 41-48 (mode 45) scales in the longitudinal series; 7-9 (mode 9) scales rows between the dorsal-fin origin and the lateral line, and absence of predorsal scales. Additional useful characters include the lack of spots on the body, a dorsal fin with a black spot, and an anal fin with two large, conspicuous hooks, and several other small hooks. Hyphessobrycon milleri is proposed as a junior synonym of H. compressus. The osteology of H. compressus is discussed in detail together with comments about phylogenetic relationships of Hyphessobrycon sensu stricto.
A espécie-tipo de Hyphessobrycon é redescrita, junto com sua descrição osteológica. Hyphessobrycon compressus é distinguido dos seus congêneres por possuir 41-48 (moda 45) escamas na série longitudinal, 7-9 (moda 9) séries de escamas entre a origem da nadadeira dorsal e a linha lateral, e pela ausência de escamas pré-dorsais. Caracteres adicionais úteis incluem a ausência de máculas no flanco, nadadeira dorsal com mácula preta e nadadeira anal com dois ganchos ósseos grandes e conspícuos e vários outros pequenos. Hyphessobrycon millerié proposto como sinônimo júnior de H. compressus. A osteologia de H. compressusé discutida em detalhe, junto com comentários sobre as relações filogenéticas de Hyphessobrycon sensu stricto.
Subject(s)
Animals , Characidae/anatomy & histology , Characidae/classification , Characidae/genetics , Osteology/classification , Osteology/historyABSTRACT
Giovanni Filippo Ingrassia was born five centuries ago in Regalbuto, a small town in the center of Sicily. After his medical course in Padua, under the guidance of Vesalius and Fallopius, he gained international fame as a physician and was recruited as a Professor of human anatomy in Naples and later in Palermo. He is remembered as "the new Galen" or "the Sicilian Hippocrates." He contributed to the knowledge of human anatomy through the description of single bones rather than the whole skeleton. In particular, he was the first to describe the "stapes," the "lesser wings of the sphenoid" and various other structures in the head (probably the pharyngotympanic tube) as well as in the reproductive system (corpora cavernosa and seminal vesicles). He was also a pioneer in the study of forensic medicine, hygiene, surgical pathology, and teratology. As Protomedicus of Sicily, he developed the scientific culture in this country. During those years, he faced the spread of malaria and plague with competence and authoritativeness. Indeed, he was one of the first physicians to suppose that certain diseases could be transmitted between individuals, therefore, introducing revolutionary measures of prevention. He is remembered for his intellectual authority and honesty. Five-hundred years after his birth, his teaching is still alive. In this article, we survey the life and contribution of this pioneer of early anatomical study.
