Inca Bone in Human Skulls of the West Anatolian Population

Abstract

** * SUMMARY: The Inca bones are rarely seen among other inter sutural bones and are accepted as variants of the normal. The incidence of the Inca bones has been rese arched in different populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the rate and types of the Inca bones in West Anatolian population. One hundred fifty-one skulls of West Anatolian subjects of unknown ages and sex were e xamined. None of the specimens showed signs of prior cranial surgery, bony malformation or trauma. The skulls were classified as adults with teeth eruption. The Inca bones were macroscopically determined and analysed. The samples were photoghraphed with Canon 400B (55 mm objective). We follow previous criteria and nomenclatures of the Inca bones. The incidence of Inca bones of examined skulls was 1.98% (3/ 151). We observed 1 incomplete lateral asymmetric, 1 complete undivided and 1 complete asymmetric bipartita Inca bones. Inca os sicles are accessory bones found in human skulls due to ossification failure. Inca bones can be used in personal identification by com paring the ante- and post-mortem radiographs. There are some regional variations in frequencies within each restricted geographical area. In the present study, the incidence of the Inca bones is 1.98% in West Anatolian population. The frequency of the Inca bones in the sk ulls belonging to Hellenistic Roman periods of Cyprus and Constantinople in Natural History Museum of Turkey was 1.59%. The variatio n in Anatolia’s population at different times and regions, because of the migrations, may cause the differences between frequencies in these studies. Evaluation of the presence of the Inca bones may be usefull in identification in forensic medicine and paleodermograph ical studies.