Developmental relationships in the upper respiratory anatomy
Faculty Information
Name:
Dr. Lauren Butaric
Email
lbutaric@ufl.edu
Phone
(352) 273-5104
Faculty Department/Division
Anatomy and Cell Biology
Project Information
This project is primarily:
Basic
Research Project Description:
Background: Previous research indicates that the internal nasal cavity dimensions are under strong selective pressures for oxygen demand and climatic thermoregulation (Maddux et al., 2017). Compared to females, males tend to exhibit relatively taller nasal cavities, allowing greater intakes of oxygen due to their increased metabolic demand. Additionally, compared to individuals from hot-wet climates, those from cold-dry climates tend to possess relatively narrower nasal cavities, which function in the warming and humidification of cold dry air. Preliminary research suggests that these thermoregulatory adaptations can occur by 5 years of age (Butaric et al., 2022); however, the anatomical processes by which growth and development of the nasal cavity occurs alongside the midfacial features are still poorly understood. Studies have hypothesized that the air spaces surrounding the nasal cavity (e.g., the maxillary sinuses) allowing modulation in nasal dimensions that would otherwise be infeasible if the area were filled with bone (Holton et al., 2013); however, this hypothesis has yet to be systematically investigated across non-adult samples.
Purpose of current study & role of student researcher: The purpose of the current study is to investigate developmental relationships between the nasal cavity and maxillary sinus dimensions. The enlisted student researcher will work with computed tomographic (CT) scans previously taken of subadults (<20 year of age) to 1) create 3D digital cranial and maxillary sinus models and 2) collect cranial, nasal cavity, and maxillary sinus measurements (e.g., volume, linear distances, 3D spatial coordinates). Data collection protocols and sample preparation will be similar to the relevant publications listed below. All data collection is computer based and will be done in the Communicore Building on UF campus.
Relevant Publications:
Butaric LN, Nicholas CL, Kravchuk KD, Maddux SD. 2022. Ontogenetic variation in nasal morphology. Anatomical Record 305: 1910-1937. https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.247600
Maddux SD, Butaric LN. 2017. Zygomaticomaxillary morphology and maxillary sinus form
and function: How spatial constraints influence pneumatization patterns among modern
humans. The Anatomical Record 300:209–225. https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.23447
Maddux SD, Butaric LN, Yokley T, Franciscus R. 2017. Ecogeographic variation across
morphofunctional units of the human nose. American Journal of Physical Anthropology
162:103–119. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.23100
Holton NE, Yokley TR, Butaric LN. 2013. The morphological interaction between the nasal cavity and maxillary sinuses in living humans. Anatomical Record 296: 414-426. https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.22655
Does this project have an international component or travel?
No