Dissertation Research: Form and function of the temporomandibular joint in anthropoid primates.

本研究的主要目的是研究 颞下颌关节（TMJ）的形状变化， 灵长类动物的功能，通过评估 假设颞下颌关节的形状与 下颌骨髁状突的运动和饮食。 为了测试 这个一般假设，研究人员将解剖颞下颌关节， 种类繁多的灵长类动物 髁突X线电影分析 在4个类人猿属（Ateles，Macaca，Papio和Pan）中的运动， 建立颞下颌关节的力学模型， 形状分析，检查模型与饮食和 对现存的猴子和猿类的进化影响也将是 贯彻 这是第一项将体内和 形态测量结果来解释的功能意义 颞下颌关节的形状之间的现存的prophylids，以及描述和 量化髁状突运动在新世界的猴子（Ateles）和 大猿（Pan）。 这项研究将产生一个模型和数据库 颞下颌关节的运动学，可以应用于功能， TMJ解剖学的进化和适应性解释 包括早期人类祖先在内的古生物化石。

The primary purpose of the research proposed here is to examine variation in the shape of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) among anthropoid primates in relation to function by evaluating the hypothesis that the shape of the TMJ is correlated with both the movements of the mandibular condyle and diet. In order to test this general hypothesis the investigators will dissect the TMJ in a broad range of primates. Cineradiographic analysis of condylar movements in 4 anthropoid genera (Ateles, Macaca, Papio, and Pan), development of a mechanical model of the TMJ, and quantitative shape analyses that examine the model in relation to dietary and evolutionary influences in living monkeys and apes will also be carried out. This is the first study to incorporate in vivo and morphometric results to interpret the functional significance of TMJ shape among extant anthropoids as well as to describe and quantify condylar movements in a New World monkey (Ateles) and a great ape (Pan). This study will result in a model and data base of anthropoid TMJ kinematics that may be applied to functional, evolutionary, and adaptive explanations of the anatomy of the TMJ region in fossil anthropoids, including early human ancestors.