Medical Discovery News
Science permeates everyday life. Yet the understanding of advances in biomedical science is limited at best. Few people make the connection that biomedical science is medicine and that biomedical scientists are working today for the medicine of tomorrow. Our weekly five-hundred-word newspaper column (http://www.illuminascicom.com/) and two-minute radio show provide insights into a broad range of biomedical science topics. Medical Discovery News is dedicated to explaining discoveries in biomedical research and their promise for the future of medicine. Each release is designed to stimulate listeners to think, question and appreciate how science affects their health as well as that of the rest of the world. We also delve into significant biomedical discoveries and portray how science (or the lack of it) has impacted health throughout history.
Medical Discovery News
A Unique Knight
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1017 A Unique Ancient Knight
Welcome to Medical Discovery News. I’m Dr. David Niesel
And I’m Dr Norbert Herzog.
Among the remains of medieval Spanish knights at a castle just east of Madrid, scientists found a uniquely shaped skull.
It was unusually narrow and long, measuring nine inches long by four inches wide compared to a normal five and a half by five and a half inch skull.
Archeologists were digging at Zorita de los Canes Castle, which was a key defense post. In the late eleven hundreds, it was granted to the Order of Calatrava, a military-religious group with great political influence.
Yet, few studies have examined the skeletal remains of its members. The unusual skull is one of the newest discoveries. Scientists think the Knight had a severe case of the genetic disease Crouzon Syndrome.
It’s when a child’s cranial pieces fuse prematurely, preventing normal growth. The skull should be flexible to allow for birth and rapid brain growth. Otherwise, the skull isn’t allowed to expand which causes abnormal head shapes. Left untreated, the pressure can cause seizures, blindness and brain damage.
Researchers say it’s extraordinary that this man lived to adulthood, especially as a knight. The deformity disrupted movement in his jaw so that his right teeth might have been removed to allow him to eat.
Researchers believe the knight died in battle. He had two unhealed stab wounds, one in the left temple and another at the nape of the neck.
Crouzon syndrome does not affect cognition. And despite his deformities, he rode a horse and wielded a sword and died in battle alongside his brother knights.
We are Drs. David Niesel and Norbert Herzog, at UTMB and Quinnipiac University, where biomedical discoveries shape the future of medicine. For much more and our disclaimer go to medicaldiscoverynews.com or listen to our podcast on your favorite podcast service.
