许昌人内耳迷路的研究--基于CT和几何形态测量

许昌人作为东亚最重要的古人类化石之一，具有古老与进步的镶嵌特征，其圆枕上凹与内耳迷路的形态还具有尼安德特人的特征，最近还有学者提出许昌人可能与丹尼索瓦人有密切的联系。虽然内耳迷路的形态可以反映物种甚至亚种水平上的变异，但是其与功能和环境关系密切，而且在非尼安德特人中也越来越多的发现相似的特征，因此对许昌人表现出的这一尼人特征需持谨慎态度。在这种情况下，传统形态测量方法在全面和深入发掘复杂的内耳迷路的形态信息中显得较为局限。本研究拟结合CT扫描与几何形态测量等新方法，对耳蜗、半规管与前庭的三维形态、三部分之间的空间关系以及三部分相对于颞骨岩部和小脑窝的空间关系进行精细的定量研究，总结现代人内耳迷路的形态特征和变异范围，尝试从演化和功能的角度解释许昌人的尼人型内耳迷路现象。

As one of the most important hominins in east Eurasia, Xuchang shares a mosaic morphological pattern with archaic hominins and their western contemporaries. They also exhibit a Neanderthal-like suprainiac fossa and bony labyrinth. Scholars also suggest a close relationship between Xuchang and Denisovans. Although morphology of bony labyrinth could reflect variation on a species or subspecies level, meanwhile, it is also tightly related to function and environment. As more Neanderthal-like semi-canal patterns are found in non-Neanderthal hominins, it is better to treat this feature with caution in the analysis. In this condition, traditional morphometrics is restricted in obtaining thorough information and fulfilling the potential of the complex bony labyrinth. With the help of computer tomography and geometric morphometrics, this project attempts to perform precisely quantitative analysis on three-dimensional morphology of cochlear, semi-canal and vestibular, their spatial connection, and the spatial relationship between those three parts and the petrosal and the cerebellum fossa. Morphological variation of bony labyrinth in Modern humans will be summarized. The Neanderthal-like bony labyrinth of Xuchang hominins will also be explained from the evolutionary or functional perspectivse.