Miklós Kásler - Zoltán Szentirmay (szerk.): Identifying the Árpád Dynasty Skeletons Interred in the Matthias Church. Applying data from historical, archaeological, anthropological, radiological, morphological, radiocarbon dating and genetic research (Budapest, 2021)

CHAPTER FOUR – Palaeopathological investigations

Prof Dr

László

Józsa, pathologist-palaeopathologist,

conducted a

detailed pathological analysis of the four skeletal finds.

King Béla

Ill

’s skeleton:

In vertebrae IX (11x6 mm diameter), XII (17x9 mm size), and L I. (14x9 mm extent), in the upper layer, a roughly central Schmoll

hernia.

Spina bifida sacralisa

(open

spine) on segments IV-V.

Spondylosis of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. The small joints are intact. The nanubrium sterni

and

the corpus sterni

are

separate.

Arthrosis in both sternoclavicular joints, which is more pronounced on the right side.

Bone crest formation at the medial head of the musculus

gastrocnemius on both tibias,

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centimetres long on the right side and 10.5 cm long on the left side. A bone crest formed on the surface of both tibia fibularis.

The two patellae differ in size. The right kneecap length is 44x40x22 mm, the left one is 49x45x24 mm. Bone crest on the edge of the left patelle, millet-sized

arthrosis on the knee joint surface.

Bone deposition on the frontal edge of the upper left hock joint. The condyles of the astragalus are intact.

The two femoral necks are uneven, the right femoral neck is 28 mm long, its angle is 123 degrees. The left cervix is 25 mm long, its angle is 121 degrees.

Enthespotathia formation by the Achilles tendons adhesion on both calcaneuses, more pronounced on the left side. Both tuberositas tibae are forward leaning, their surface uneven (healed

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