Provider: Moravian Museum, Brno, Czech Republic

TY  - JOUR
JO  - Anthropologie (Brno)
TI  - Fifth Toe Distal Inter-Phalangeous Synostosis: Paleopathological Description and Possible Evolutionary Significance
AU  - Capasso L
AU  - Di Tota G
Y1  - 1998
VL  - 36
IS  - 3
PB  - Moravian Museum, Brno, Czech Republic
SN  - 0323-1119
SP  - 231
EP  - 233
KW  - Congenital synostosis
KW  - Fifth toe
KW  - Vestigial organs
KW  - Effects of the shoes
N2  - 
N2  - The authors examine the gross pathology and the radiographic aspect of a distal inter-phalangeous synostosis of the fifth toe from archaeological excavation of an early Middle Age cemetery in Central Italy (Teramo-Sant'Anna, Abruzzo, VIIth century A.D.). They suggest that this type of congenital synostosis might be of evolutionary significance. In fact, human toes might be considered as vestigial organs, because they have undergone a remarkable reduction in length during the evolution of our species, perhaps in connection with the acquisition of the erect posture and, more recently, with the regular use of footwear.
ER  -