NO. I THE HVPOTROCHANTERIC FOSSA HRDLICKA 9 



cour's " Skeletal Modifications Following Hemiplegia ".'' The fossa 

 is more frequent on the affected side, and when bilateral, is both 

 larger and deeper in the affected bone (p. 50). The fossa stands 

 in close relation to the different forms of platymery. Its greater 

 frequency and development on the diseased side are due to lesser 

 development of the crural muscle and to structural differences in 

 the affected bone. " It is consequently possible to suppose that at 

 a given time a subject may possess a fossa, that is to say a free 

 space between the gluteal ridge and the external border of the surface 

 of insertion of the [crural] muscle; and that through the enlarge- 

 ment of the latter, caused by conditions of life or activity, this surface 

 [the fossa] diminishes or disappears " (p. 51). And further (p. 57) : 

 " The significance of the hypotrochanteric fossa varies according 

 to the form of platymery which it accompanies. In certain cases it 

 denotes accentuated platymery, while in others it is in relation to 

 a smaller muscular development. Its diminution and its disappearance 

 in certain femora would indicate, therefore, a proportionate increase 

 in muscular activity." ^^ 



Shortly afterward (1900-1), Klaatsch published a valuable paper 

 on " The Most Important Variations of the Skeletal Parts of the 

 Lower Limbs ","^ in which he also deals briefly with the hypotro- 

 chanteric fossa (pp. 633-635), There are no new statistical data 

 and no original study of the fossa, but the author has observed the 

 hollow, well developed, in the femora of Neanderthal and Spy, which 

 (together with Boncour's and Evangeli-Tramond's observations) 

 " opens the possibility of conceiving the feature as an old character 

 which ontogenetically or, better, during the growth period of recent 

 man, can still transitionally make its appearance ". And Klaatsch is 

 further of the opinion that the location of the fossa in the Neanderthal 

 and Spy femora is such that a genetic connection of the same with 



^^ Paul-Boncour, G., fitude des modifications squelettiques consecutives a 

 rhemiplegie. I. Le Femur. Bull. Soc. Anthrop. Paris, ser. 5, vol. i, 1900. 



" " La signification de la fosscfte liypotrochantcrienne varie suivant la forme 

 de platymerie qu'elle accompagne. Dans certains cas elle denote une platymerie 

 accentuee, dans d'autres au contraire elle est en relation avec un moindre de- 

 veloppement musculaire. Sa diminution et sa disparition sur certains femurs 

 indiqueraient done un accroissement proportionnel de Tactivite musculaire." 



(P. 57.) 



" Klaatsch, H., Die wichtigsten Variationen am Skelet der freien unteren 

 Extremitat. Ergebnisse Anat. u. Entwickelungsgeschichte, vol. 10, pp. 599-719. 

 1 900- 1. 



