Placing the fixed landmarks and curves in Avizo

After creating an endocast, you need to place landmarks and points for curves. I will be placing 29 fixed landmarks and 5 curves. The description for the locations of the landmarks is below.

After the endocast is created, return to the project view.
- generate surface from the labels file -> .surf file -> surface view
- if necessary, extract the endocast segmentation by right clicking on the surface view button and clicking extract surface
    - extracted surface -> surface view2
- create an isosurface of the skull
   - move the threshold around to show just bone, click apply
- add a clipping plane, right click on the Morton (data) button, Display -> clipping plane
- create a landmarks button -> landmark view
   - set imageset1 to extractedsurface (endocast)
   - this will be the fixed landmarks
- create a second landmarks 2 button -> landmark view
   - set imageset1 to extractedsurface (endocast)
   - this will be one of the curves curves
   - repeat for all curves

move the clipping plane around to be able to view, set the isosurface as the visible surface

Once the landmarks are placed export the landmarks in plain txt file
Next resample the curves

The 29 fixed landmarks and 5 curve locations used for my study are based on the landmark locations and methods in the article cited here:

Neubauer, S., Gunz, P., & Hublin, J. J. (2009). The pattern of endocranial ontogenetic shape changes in humans. Journal of Anatomy, 215(3), 240-255.



Landmark Locations and Order

29 Fixed Landmarks:


1. Anterior Sphenoid Spine

2. Foramen Caecum

3. Dorsum Sellae

4. Endosphenobasion: midline point on the spheno-occipital synchondrosis

5. Basion: the point at which the anterior margin of the foramen magnum is intersected by the mid-sagittal plane

6. Opisthion: the point at which the mid sagittal plane intersects the posterior margin of the foramen magnum

7. Left Anterior Clinoid Process

8. Right Anterior Clinoid Process

9. Left Optic Canal

10. Right Optic Canal

11. Left Superior Orbital Fissure

12. Right Superior Orbital Fissure

13. Left Foramen Rotundum

14. Right Foramen Rotundum

15. Left Foramen Ovale

16. Right Foramen Ovale

17. Left Petrous Apex

18. Right Petrous Apex

19. Left Internal Acoustic Meatus

20. Right Internal Acoustic Meatus

21. Left Maximum Curve point

22. Right Maximum Curve point

23. Left Jugular Foramen

24. Right Jugular Foramen

25. Left Hypoglossic Canal

26. Right Hypoglossic Canal

27. Internal Occipital Protuberance

28. Endolambda: where the two branches of the lambdoidal suture meet the sagittal suture

29. Endobregma:  where the coronal and sagittal sutures meet

5 curve locations:
- these are outlined with a large number of landmarks and then resampled to a smaller number of equidistant points

1. Left Petrous curve (10)

2. Right Petrous curve (10)

- delineates the middle from the posterior cranial fossa

3. Left Transverse curve (10)

4. Right Transverse curve (10)

- boundary between posterior cranial fossa and the vault

5. Midsagittal Curve (40)

Curves that are not longer being used: 

Left Sphenoid curve (8)
Right Sphenoid curve (8)
- border between anterior and middle cranial fossa

Basiooccipital Clivus (4)

Foramen Magnum (8)