BioMechanics Exam 4

Question 1

Charles Dawson 1912

Answer 1

Piltdown Man
Was presented as fossils of early human
Missing links between man and ape
Way for Europeans to claim we evolved from Europe which is false
Was found to be a hoax

Question 2

Taung Child 1924

Answer 2

Died from golden eagle in Africa grabbing it in the eyes and under the jaw
Is an early human between ape and man
Is a little kid

Question 3

Lee Berger 2006

Answer 3

Wrote about Taung child and found out how he died which was via a golden eagle

Question 4

Knuckle walkers vs Bipeds

Answer 4

Humans become bipeds with quadrupedal knuckle walking and vertical climbing
Bent hip bent knee walking for chimps which is less energy efficient

Question 5

Why is bipedalism advantageous?

Answer 5

Jungle dried and was replaced with drylands
Frees up hands to carry things
Women can take care of kids better/hold child better
Can make emotional response to holding child close. Hormonal response
Frees up hands for hunting
More energy efficient locomotion
Can forge berries and nuts easily. Can transport things easier
Companionship
Thermoregulation
Better at surveilling our environment

Question 6

Why bipedalism is bad for you

Answer 6

Pulled muscles, slipped discs and rheumatism
Women’s pelvic size unable to keep up with brain size
Varicose veins (connective tissue breaks that holds veins)
Calluses/flat feet
Hemorrhoids

Question 7

Explain thermoregulation of bipedalism

Answer 7

Loss of hair because you get cool breeze off the ground
Monkey gets heat from ground
Less surface area on human exposed to the sun
Prevents gaining heat and dissipating heat
Have lots of sweat glands

Question 8

Explain height with bipedalism

Answer 8

Taller than dangerous predators
Can see the predators from far away

Question 9

Humanoid humans

Answer 9

Our brain capacity are larger
Develops cerebral cortex more
If its in-front of the cerebral column, it weights too much
On top of VC balances it

Question 10

Kindchenschema

Answer 10

The set of physical characteristics that makes babies and young children appear cute and endearing. Generally, these characteristics include a round face, large eyes, chubby cheeks, and a small nose and mouth.

Question 11

Foramen Magnum

Answer 11

In humans is moved to the anterior which gives more support from being on top of cerebral column
In chimps it is posterior which requires more muscles to hold the head up

Question 12

Compare vertebrae between chimps and humans

Answer 12

In chimps there is less curve
In humans it is more curved

Question 13

Pelvis of chimps vs. humans

Answer 13

In humans it is bowl shaped which is between at supporting weight
In chimps they have a longer illum with a vertically shaped pelvis

Question 14

Differences between femur Q angle between chimp and human

Answer 14

In humans it points towards midline to create Q angle
In chimps vertical femur with little to no Q angle

Question 15

Differences between feet and big toe between chimps and humans

Answer 15

Humans feet are in line with the other toes
Chimps feet are opposable to the other toes. Pushed out away from foot

Question 16

Foot arches of chimps and humans

Answer 16

Humans have three present arches
In chimps there are no arches, they have a flat foot

Question 17

Mechanical efficiency of human walking between chimps and humans

Answer 17

Slow walking in humans: 50%
Fast walking (humans): 55%
Comfortable walking speed (humans): 60% is the most efficient
Bent hip/bend knee (chimps): 25%
Waddle when walking because because they have no hip abductors
Therefore humans are more energy efficient