Torus palatinus in the Neandertal Circeo I skull. A histologic, microradiographic and electron microscopic investigation

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Abstract
A histologic, microradiographic and electron microscopic study has been carried out on the nature and structure of palatal irregularities found in the skull of the Neandertal human remain Circeo I.The histologic investigation of one of the palatal overgrowths shows that this is made up of spongy bone. Most of the trabeculae are of lamellar type, some of the others consist of primary woven bone. Osteocyte lacunae are clearly visible in the trabeculae, but mottled, granular areas are present too. These contain no recognizable structures. Microradiography shows this bone has low x‐ray density, probably due to decalcification during fossilization. Needle‐shaped apatite crystals are visible under the electron microscope. They are like those found in recent bone, although their often irregular arrangement seems to suggest the presence of collapsed tissue. The collagen fibrils do not always show a periodic pattern. The mottled, granular areas are crossed by many thin tubules, which are probably “Borhkanäle.”The conclusion has been drawn that the Neandertal man Circeo I had a well‐developed torus palatinus of nodular type with incipient transformation into the lobular type.

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