AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 5 2 5 3 3 - 539 (1980)

Brachymesophalangia V in Hottentot and "Cape Colored" Children in Namibia (South West Africa) and South Africa

RONALD SINGER, KUNIHIKO KIMURA, AND STANISLAV GAJISIN Department of Anatomy, The University of Chicago, Chicago, lilinois 60637 (R.S.1; Department of Anatomy, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozo.wa, Japan* (K.K.); and Department of Anatomy, University of Geneva, Switzerland fS.G.I

KEYWORDS Brachymesophalangia V, Hottentots, Rehoboth Basters, Cape Coloreds, Growth, Middle phalanx, Skeletal maturation

ABSTRACT In order to determine the incidence of Brachymesophalangia V, an inspectional and metrical analysis was made of radiographs of 67 Nama- speaking Hottentots aged 2 to 17.5 years, and 210 Rehoboth Basters (in Namibia) and Cape Colored children (near Cape Town) aged 1.5 to 21 years. None of the children displayed cone-shaped epiphysis or early union, and none showed Brachymesophalangia V. It was confirmed that the incidence of Brachymesopha- langia V is considerably higher in Mongoloid populations than in Caucasoid or Negroid groups, including Hottentots.

The term "Brachymesophalangia V" was used for a shortening of the middle phalanx of the fifth digit by Pol ('21) in his classification of brachydactyly. Hertzog ('67) pointed out that the incidence of this trait is considerably higher in Mongoloid populations than in Caucasoid or Negroid ones and stated that there may indeed be a sex difference in this trait. Many inves- tigators have reported on Brachymesophalan- gia V in various populations (see Table 2), in which it has been observed that this trait occurs more frequently in females than in males. In those reports of high frequencies of the trait (for example, Sutow and West, '55; Pryde and Kitabatake, '591, Garnet al. ('67) point out that the definition of this trait is broader than that used by most workers. The definition of Brachymesophalangia V differs for various in- vestigators, and Table 1 shows some criteria based on the measurements of phalanges.

Garnet al. ('67) stated that, while apparently not directly nutritional in origin, it is reason- able to suggest that Brachymesophalangia V may be adaptive where caloric or protein- caloric malnutrition selects for size reduction per se. However, later, Garn et al. ('72) stated that Brachymesophalangia V is at least two different heritable traits in apparently normal subjects and that the cone-epiphysis (with or without Brachymesophalangia V) is differently and separately inherited from Brachy- mesophalangia V alone. Sakura ('70) also pointed out the heritability of Brachymeso-

0002-948318015204-0533$01.70 C 1980 ALAN R. LISS, INC.

phalangia V based on a parent-child study of this trait. Smith (1896) first pointed out that the distal phalanx of the fifth finger of many patients with Down syndrome inclined toward the midline of the hand. This abnormality is due less to a defect of the distal phalanx than it is to a deformation of the middle phalanx. Greulich ('73) stated that this type of dysplasia is different in normal and patient groups tha t is, in patients with Down syndrome, the ab- normal middle phalanx is typically shortened, disproportionately wide, and, frequently, wedge-shaped, and it is usually associated with clinodactyly, while in normal people the dysplastic phalanx is characterized by a con- cave defect in the base of its diaphysis and by a cone-shaped or mushroom-shaped epiphysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study is part of a larger survey of the indigenous and other populations involved (Barnicot et al., '59; Singer and Weiner, '63; Krut and Singer, '63; Singer et al., '63; Weiner et al., '64; Singer, '70; Heltne and Singer, '71). Unfor- tunately, the size of the Hottentot sample is small for a number of reasons, including politi- cal, and the fact that an individual subject was only acceptable if the individual, parents, and

*Kunihiko Kimura isa Visiting Research Associate and Professorial Lecturer, Department of Anatomy, University of Chicago.

Received November 17, 1977, xcepted Au,wst 24, 1979.

533

534 RONALD SINGER, KUNIHIKO KIMURA, AND STANISLAV GAJISIN

TABLE I . Criteria of "Brachymesophalangia V" based on measurements, according to various authors

No. Criteria Authors

1 2 3 4

5

6 7

8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17

is less than IV-ML

0.50 0.55 0.59 0.60 0.50 for males 0.40 for females t 0.50 for males

0.50

V-ML is less than v-PL 0.47 for females 1

0.40 is more than

V-ML 0.50 0.60

(V-DL)-(V-ML) is more than 2 mm -- V-ML is less than V-DL

0.9 1.0

V brachymesophalangia is 17% wider and 36% shorter compared with the normal controls

Discriminant function The distal extremity of the middle phalanx of the

fifth digit falls short of the joint line between the proximal and middle phalanges of the fourth digit.

Hertzog, '67 Noriyasu, '73 Kimura, unpublished OBrien (Hertzog, '67)

Sakura, '70

Takatama and Minooka, '76 Kimura, unpublished

Itazu and Miyachi, '42 Ishiyama, '60

Wetherington, '75 Noriyasu, '73 Itazu and Miyachi, '42 Ishiyama, '60 Schmid and Junker, '50

Garn et al., '67 Noriyasu, '73 Abbie, '71

V-ML = length of middle phalanx i5th), V-DL = length of distal phalanx (5th)

grandparents spoke the Nama language. The cultural definition of a "Hottentot" was decided upon because of the confusion existing concern- ing the physical definitions of Hottentots, Bushmen, and "Cape Coloreds."

This short report records the results of a search for Brachymesophalangia V in radio- graphs of the left hand of 67 (34 male and 33 female) Hottentot children aged 2 to 14.5 years in Namibia (South West Africa) and 210 (114 male and 96 female) children aged 1.5 to 21 years of related populations: the Rehoboth Bas- ters (essentially Hottentot-White admixture) in Namibia and "Cape Colored' children (basi- cally of a similar admixture) of the Bonnytoun School near Cape Town. Because of the ances- tral similarities of the latter two groups, the data were pooled. The field studies were carried out in 1961. In addition, in 1964,15 boys and 24 girls of the Hottentot group were reinvesti- gated for growth changes. These films were also used for diagnosis of Brachymesophalangia V. The nutritional status of these groups was gen- erally low or subnormal, especially that of the Hottentots.

For determining Brachymesophalangia V, an inspectional and also a metric method was used, For the former, the approach of Greulich ('73) was utilized. For the latter, the following criteria were adopted: the ratio of the lengths of the fifth to the fourth middle phalanges (V- MLIIV-ML) is less than 0.59; the ratio of the lengths ofthe middle to the proximal phalanges

in the fifth digit (V-MLN-PL) is less than 0.50; and, the ratio of the breadth to the length of the fifth middle phalanx (V-MBIV-ML) is more than 0.60. Kimura (unpublished) tried to use both the former two ratios and found two of 30 adult male Japanese (6.7%) with Brachy- mesophalangia V. Kimura ('73) noted that the higher correlation of these sets of bones com- pared to every other set. The last of the above criteria is based on the report by Noriyasu ('73). Each length and breadth (at mid-shaft) was measured on x-ray films with sliding calipers accurate to 0.1 mm. Furthermore, skeletal age was assessed for each child by means of the TW2 method (Tanner et al., '75).

RESULTS

Figure 1 (Cape Colored children) and Figure 2 (Hottentots) show the positions of all individ- uals and the criterion for Brachymesophalan- gia V (oblique line) for each ratio.

A single boy (1.5%) of 67 Hottentot children is outside the criterion of V-MLN-PL. His skeletal age was 6.6 years. While, of 210 Cape Colored children, two boys (1 .(Mr) are outside the criterion of V-MLIIV-ML, and three boys (1.4%) outside the criteria of V-MLN-PL and V-MBIV-ML. Only one boy (0.5%') ofthese eight "outsiders" is common to all three ratios. He is less than 1 year skeletal age. The skeletal ages of the other five boys are 3.8, 2.6, 2.4, 2.2, and 1.2 years, respectively.

BRACHYMESOPHALANGIA V IN HOlTENTOTS 535

3-

CAPE COLORED mm [VML

female 0

VML

24

20

16

12

8

I

I VML r

10 14 18 22 26 30 34

24

20

16

12

8 VPL

~~~

12 16 20 24 28 34 38

Fig. 1. Individual Cape Colored children plotted for each ratio. The oblique line is the criterion for each ratio. Figures within the axes, adjacent to each of the “outsiders”, indicate the skeletal age by TW2 method.

536 RONALD SINGER, KUNIHIKO KIMURA, AND STANISLAV GAJISIN

HOTTENTOT mm 201 VML

0 o o 18.

16.

14.

I VML

0

0

0 male female

VML 4 ' '

n .

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 mm

Fig. 2. Individual Hottentot children plotted for each ratio. The oblique line is the criterion for each ratio. The figure within the axes, adjacent the "outsider", indicates skeletal age by TW2 method.

BRACHYMESOPHALANGIA V IN HOTTENTOTS 537

On inspection of the radiographs, none of these children had a cone-shaped epiphysis, early union, or a concave defect in the base of its diaphysis; t h a t is, none showed Brachy- mesophalangia V.

DISCUSSION

In the present study, a few boys (1.5% in Hottentots and 1.0-1.4% in Cape Coloreds) were suspected of having Brachymesophalan- gia V on the basis of the metrical ratios. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, ratios are regularly increased or decreased with age and linear re- lationship is recognized between two meas- urements of each ratio. An absolute criterion of ratio alone is unreasonable for determining

Brachymesophalangia V in subjects of all ages, especially during the growing period. In Fig- ures 1 and 2, at the lower end of the scale, where the youngest individuals are found, the oblique line separates a few individuals (outsiders), but actually they fall within the normal pattern of each group, and should not be diagnosed as Brachymesophalangia V. Thus the oblique line (index), developed initially on the basis of adult data, is not a reliable criterion a t very low ages. None of 67 Hottentot and 210 Cape Colored children exhibited Brachymesophalangia V on inspection.

Table 2 shows the incidence of Brachy- mesophalangia V in some populations based on various criteria. From this table, it is apparent

TABLE 2. Frequencies of "Brachymesophalanggia V in some populations

Population

Philadelphia blacks* Hottentots* Cape Colored* Ecuadorian blacks+ Ecuador mestizos* American whites Ohio whites* English whites Australian white@ Iranians* Costa Ricanst Nicaraguans7 Guatemalans+ Pima Indians Blackfeet Indians American Indians Peru Indians Peru Indians Polynesians* Australian aborigines Micronesians Philadelphia Chinese* Hong-Kong Chinese* Japaneset Japanese* Japanese* Japaneset Japaneset Japanese Japanese* Japanese* Japaneset Japanese Japaneset Japaneset Japaneset Japanese Japanese*

American Japanese* Ainu*

Males no. %

~

34 114

60

532

363

308 48 51

62

1302 500 500 225 815 1107 2398 453 257 493

141 280

516 51

0 0

3.3

13.9

6.33

13.64 6.3 5.9

12.9

14.8 10.8 7.6 4.9 15.0 14.7 11.9 10.4 19.8 11.4

3.2 3.2-16.8

13.37 2.0- 3.9

Females no. 9c Criteria" Authors

(200 1.0) 33 0 96 0 (94 2.1) (182 3.1)

( 1000 1.0) (647 0.6) (800 1.0) 60 3.3

(226 0.9) (1841 1.3) (1722 1.9) (1744 2.0) 55 1 24.9 (100 1.0) 385 9.09 (40 15.0) (238 5.0) ( 164 1.2) 299 20.74 56 14.3 45 20.0

(247 4.9) 63 15.9

(164 25.6) 1237 21.2 550 15.1 534 14.2 224 16.1 807 24.5 1048 23.4 2058 17.4 439 17.2 274 27.5 471 22.5 (544 10.3) 128 13.7 296 8.1-20.3

474 28.69 70 4.3-15.7

1 3, 7, 11 3, 7, 11

15 15 4 15 4 14 15 15 15 15 4 4 ? 1 15

? 17 4 1 15 12

? ? ? ?

9, 13 14 14 14 14 14 14 5 16

4, 6, 11, 14

? 4, 6, 11, 14

Hertzog, '67 present study present study Garn et al., '67 Garn et al., '67 OBrien et al. Garn et al. '67 OBrien et al. Roche, '61 Garnet al., '67 Garn et al., '67 Garn et al., '67 Garn et al., '67 OBrien et al. OBrien et al. Greulich, '73 Hertzog, '67 Garn et al., '67 Fry, '60 Abbie, '7 1 OBrien et al. Hertzog, '67 Garn et al., '67 Itazu and Miyachi, '42 Sutow and West, '55 Kitabatake, '57 Wakatsuki, '57a Wakatsuki, '57b Ishiyama, '60 Sugiura et al., '62 Sugiura et al., '63 Saito, '63 Fujita et al., '64 Terada andTakahashi,'68 Sakura, '70 Sakura, '70 Noriyasu, '73 Takatama and

Minooka, '76 Greulich, '73 Takatama and

Minooka, '76

*children t : adults + children ( 1 males + females "see Table 1 .

538 RONALD SINGER, KUNIHIKO KIMURA. AND STANISLAV GAJISIN

that the incidence of Brachymesophalangia V is considerably higher in Mongoloid popu- lations than in Caucasoid or Negroid ones. Mi- cronesians and Australian aborigines also show a high incidence of this trait. Greulich (’73) found no shortening or other type of dysplastic middle phalanx of the fifth finger in 102 adult hand skeletons of East African Negro cadavers in Uganda. As our subjects generally contain a high proportion of individuals who are relatively subnutritional in status (espe- cially in Hottentot children), it would seem that nutrition (in the general sense) alone cannot be held accountable for the presence of Brachyme- sophalangia V and cone-shaped epiphysis.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Field research was supported, in part, by USPHS grants RG 7297 (Sl) and GM 10113, the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropolog- ical Research, Inc., and many private donors.

We a r e especially grateful to Dr. B. Hirschson (Cape Town) and the late Dr. Nels Strandjord (Chicago) who helped to overcome many difficulties to obtain good radiographs in the field. Field collaborators included Profes- sors J.S. Weiner (London), G.A. Harrison (Ox- ford), and Dr. W. Jopp (Wiesbaden).

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