ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Anatomy
doi: 10.25005/2074-0581-2025-27-4-831-840
STUDY OF THE CAROTID CANAL OF SKULLS FROM GOLDEN HORDE BURIALS OF THE 13th AND 14th CENTURIES AD

A.V. GORBUNOV1,2, D.S. PARSHIN3, A.N. KHVOROVA1,4, M G. KALUGINA1, A.S. LAZEEV2

1Tambov State University named after G.R. Derzhavin, Tambov, Russian Federation
2Tambov State Technical University, Tambov, Russian Federation
3Astrakhan State Medical University, Astrakhan, Russian Federation
4Tambov Regional Clinical Hospital named after V.D. Babenko, Tambov, Russian Federation

Objective: To use anatomical measurements of the carotid canal (CC) and craniometric parameters to determine the age and sex of human individuals. This evaluation involves measuring the diameters of the CC external and internal apertures, the CC length in the temporal bone, and the nasion-porion distance (N-Po) to assess age and sex differences.

Methods: After determining the sex, age, and race of the individuals through craniological and craniometric methods, measurements were taken of the diameters of both the CC external and internal apertures, the CC length, and the N-Po in 78 skulls obtained from burials dating to the Golden Horde era. Statistical analysis of the morphometric data was conducted using multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Results: Out of the 78 skulls analyzed, 40 (51%) belonged to individuals of the Mongoloid race, 12 (16%) to the Caucasian race, and 26 (33%) exhibited features of both races, classified as mixed type. Among these skulls, 11 (14%) were from children, while 67 (86%) were from adults. Within the adult category, 20 (30%) were male and 47 (70%) were female. The measurements of the diameter of the CC external apertures and the N-Po indicated sexual dimorphism (р<0.01). Additionally, the diameters of both the CC external and internal apertures, along with the N-Po, were effective in distinguishing adult skulls from those of children (p<0.05). However, the diameter of the CC internal aperture and CC length did not exhibit sexual dimorphism (р>0.05). Furthermore, the CC length did not serve as a distinguishing characteristic between adult and child skulls (р>0.05). Importantly, the diameters of the CC external and internal apertures, the CC length, and the N-Po did not show any significant differences between skulls of Mongoloid and Caucasian races (р>0.05).

Conclusion: CC length and the N-Po can be used to verify human age and sex anatomically. The CC length, specifically, may serve as an indicator of individual development and maturity, particularly during childhood, and should be considered when assessing human development (ontogenesis).

Keywords: Craniology, craniometry, carotid canal of the temporal bone, nasion-porion distance, sexual dimorphism, human ontogenesis..

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Authors' information:

Gorbunov Aleksey Viktorovich,
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Human Morphology, Tambov State University named after G.R. Derzhavin; Professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tambov State Technical University
Scopus ID: 57197725541
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-6880-0472
SPIN: 2407-2777
E-mail: alexey.gorbunov@mail.ru

Parshin Dmitriy Sergeevich,
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of General Surgery with a Course of Postgraduate Education, Astrakhan State Medical University
Researcher ID: AAB-9288-2019
Scopus ID: 57207687262
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-1050-7716
SPIN: 8248-1975
E-mail: parshin.doc@gmail.com

Khvorova Angelina Nikolaevna,
Postgraduate Student of the Department of Human Morphology, Tambov State University named after G.R. Derzhavin; Neurosurgeon, Tambov Regional Clinical Hospital named after V.D. Babenko
ORCID ID: 0009-0000-3589-5834
E-mail: ange.makon@gmail.com

Kalugina Maria Gennadyevna,
Senior Lecturer, Department of Nursing and Laboratory Diagnostics, Tambov State University named after G.R. Derzhavin
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-0764-4269
SPIN: 6355-3764
E-mail: kaluginamg@yandex.ru

Lazeev Aleksandr Sergeevich,
Postgraduate Student of the Department of Automated Decision Support Systems, Tambov State Technical University
ORCID ID: 0009-0000-2971-1277
SPIN: 4821-8755
E-mail: aleksandr.lazzeev@gmail.com

Information about support in the form of grants, equipment, medications

The authors did not receive financial support from manufacturers of medicines and medical equipment

Conflicts of interest: No conflict

Address for correspondence:

Parshin Dmitriy Sergeevich
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of General Surgery with a Course of Postgraduate Education, Astrakhan State Medical University

414000, Russian Federation, Astrakhan, Bakinskaya str., 121

Tel.: +7 (965) 4545168

E-mail: parshin.doc@gmail.com


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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