Doctoral Dissertation Improvement: Obstetrical Adaptations in the Human Bony Pelvis: A Morphometric Approach

骨盆形态变异和两性异形是解剖学家、人类学家和妇产科医生都感兴趣的问题。骨盆形态的性别差异被认为与分娩对女性的需求有关。最近的研究已经在骨盆的特定区域发现了这些差异。然而，这些差异如何与3D形状变化相关，这些变化如何影响分娩过程，以及体型和比例差异如何影响这些形状变化，我们知之甚少。本研究解决的问题包括：骨盆内是否存在不同的性别二态性模式，使得某些区域比其他区域更受产科影响？不同体型的种群是否表现出不同的性别二态性模式？为了回答这些问题，本研究使用尖端的几何形态计量学方法来量化盆腔形态。里程碑数据将从骨骼收集和临床影像数据中收集。定量分析将确定骨盆形状在人群内部和人群之间的变化。这是使用几何形态计量学来检查种群内部和种群之间的产科适应性的首批研究之一。定位骨盆受不同选择压力直接影响的特定区域，对于深入了解现代人类的生物适应以及人类进化的模式和机制非常重要。本研究涉及广泛的主题，从古人类化石的解释到骨盆底疾病的临床诊断和治疗策略。该项目涉及一个跨学科的人类学家和临床医生团队，并将增加关于骨盆形态功能意义的对话。此外，本研究的结论将有助于早期识别有骨盆底疾病风险的女性，这对女性的生活质量有负面影响。资助一名女研究生博士论文研究

Pelvic morphological variation and sexual dimorphism is of interest to anatomists, anthropologists, and OB/GYNs alike. Sexual differences in pelvic morphology are assumed to relate to the demands of childbirth on females. Recent work has identified these differences in specific areas of the pelvis. However, little is known about how these differences are related to 3D shape changes, how these changes influence the birthing process, and how body size and proportion differences affect these shape changes. Questions addressed in this study include: Are there varying patterns of sexual dimorphism within the pelvis, such that certain areas are more obstetrically influenced than others? Do populations of different body sizes display different patterns of sexual dimorphism?To answer these questions, this study uses cutting-edge geometric morphometric approaches to quantify pelvic morphology. Landmark data will be collected from skeletal collections and from clinical imaging data. Quantitative analyses will determine how pelvic shape varies within and between populations. Intellectual Merit This is one of the first studies to examine obstetrical adaptations within and between populations using geometric morphometrics. Localizing specific areas of the pelvis that are directly influenced by different selective pressures is important for insight into modern human biological adaptation and the patterns and mechanisms of human evolution. Broader ImpactThis study is relevant to a wide range of topics ranging from interpretations of fossil hominins to clinical diagnoses and treatment strategies for pelvic floor disorders. This project involves an interdisciplinary team of anthropologists and clinicians, and will increase dialogue regarding the functional significances of pelvic morphology. Additionally, conclusions from this study will aid in the early identification of women at risk for pelvic floor disorders, which have a negative impact on a woman's quality of life. Funding supports the doctoral dissertation research for a female graduate student