High occurrence of a basicranial feature in Homo erectus: Anatomical description of the preglenoid tubercle

Abstract

The degree of differentiation between Western and Eastern Early Middle Pleistocene hominids (Homo erectus) is still under debate. On the one hand, the two populations are believed by some to belong to two separate taxonomic categories possessing their own exclusive features. On the other hand, they are considered by others to belong to a single but ubiquitous global population with regional specificities that are mainly due to variations in the frequency of certain features. In this context, an additional trait, the preglenoid tubercle (tuberculum anterius fossae mandibularis), may well shed light on the matter. The tubercle is often present on the anterior part of the fossa mandibularis at the anterior extent of the joint capsule and articular tubercle (tuber articulare) of fossils usually assigned to Homo erectus. This study describes the anatomy of the preglenoid tubercle, to indicate its occurrence and to try to improve its use in taxonomy and phylogeny, although its origin and functional significance have not yet been clarified. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.