Bones grow in length and in width, growth in length occurs via longitudinal growth, growth in width is reached by an increase in cortical thickness via appositional growth. Longitudinal growth has...Show moreBones grow in length and in width, growth in length occurs via longitudinal growth, growth in width is reached by an increase in cortical thickness via appositional growth. Longitudinal growth has intensively been used as an indicator for children’s health and nutritional status in past populations. As appositional growth is also influenced by malnutrition and disease, it suggested that appositional bone growth might be used as an indicator for stress. The aim of this study was to confirm whether appositional growth could be used as an indicator for stress during childhood in a nineteenth century rural population from Middenbeemster, the Netherlands. This population is known to have suffered from malnutrition and epidemic outbreaks, which makes this population ideal for this research. In order to study longitudinal length, femoral length was plotted against dental age of Middenbeemster subadults. To study appositional growth, cortical thickness, measured on X-rays, was plotted against dental age. These were compared with long bone lengths and cortical thicknesses of modern populations. It appeared that Middenbeemster subadults between 7 and 11 years old were deficient in longitudinal growth compared to modern children, and that children younger than 7 years were not deficient in longitudinal growth. Middenbeemster children were deficient in appositional growth. This deficiency was greatest in children between 9 and 12 years old, but children younger than 7 were also deficient. The Middenbeemster subadults were generally more deficient in appositional growth than in longitudinal growth. This study showed that appositional growth could be used as an indicator for stress in a nineteenth century rural population. It appeared to be a more sensitive indicator than longitudinal growth. Hopefully, appositional growth will be more widely appreciated as an indicator for stress in health studies in past populations. However, more research in populations from different time periods or geographical areas will strengthen its position.Show less
