Evidence for evolution 2 Flashcards
what characteristics do primates have?
generally sit in erect position
flexible
prehensility in hands and feet (grasping)
five digits on each hand and feet
nails instead of claws
four incisors in both the upper and lower
poor sense of smell
increased brain complexity
longer gestational period
reduced number of offspring
what is the evolution of digits in primates?
increasing mobility
increasing ability to move digits independently
first digit is opposable
first digit increase in length
claws give way to nails
what is the evolution of dentition in primates?
-reduction of teeth from 36 to 32
-4 cusped molars to having 5 in humans
monkeys and apes having large canines with a diastema
what is the evolution of sense of smell in primates?
- reduction in smell
- reduction in snout length
- reduced prognathic jaw
- increased flat face
what is the evolution of vision in primates?
-increasingly forward-facing eyes
-increased in bony socket/projection of eyes
-increased visual area in brain
-increased stereoscopic vision
what is the evolution of brain in primates?
-increased brain size
-increase in convolutions (folds)
-increased in cerebral cortex size
what is the evolution of gestational period in primates?
-increasing length of time that the offspring are dependent on the parents
-increasing later arrival at sexual maturity
what organisms are apart of hominides?
great apes and humas
what organisms are apart of hominines?
humans, chimpanzees and gorillas
what organisms are apart of hominins?
humans and extinxt ancestors seperate from chimpanzees
what is the foreman magnum?
the hole where the brain joins the spinal cord
where is the foreman magnum located in gorillas?
towards the back of the skull with larger neck muscles to hold up the head
where is the foreman magnum located in humans ?
central as the skull balances on top of the spine
describe the humans skeleton ?
bipedal locomotions
s-shaped spine
longer legs
shorter arms
smaller hands and feet
no opposable big toe
less finger curve
describe the gorilla skeleton ?
quadrupedal locomotion
bow shaped spine
shorter legs
longer arms
opposable big toe
curved fingers
describe the curvature of the spinal column in humans and why it is beneficial?
humans have a double curvature
to improve balance and head can balance on top of neck
what are the features of the gorillas skull?
no forehead
large and distinctive brow ridge
small brain case
face projects canine teeth
large zygomatic arch
what are the features of the humans skull?
high forehead
small brow ridge
flatten face
smaller molars and less teeth
smaller zygomatic arch
shallow arch
what is the shape of the pelvis in humans?
broad and short
for easier child birth and attachement of muscle
what is the shape of the pelvis in gorillas ?
thinner and longer
what are the points of the carrying angle
- pelvis shape allows for hip joint to be directly under the trunk and head
- large head on femur fits into the acetabulum
- wide pelvis allows femur to coverage towards the knees
- femur angled in towards the knee forms the carrying angle
- good for stability for walking
- weight distribution remains close to the central axis
describe the humans foot ?
- weight transferred from knee to tibia to ankle
- no prehensility (grasping)
- big toe is larger and in line with the other toes
- metatarsals shaped to form longitudinal arch (front to back) and transverse arch (side to side)
describe the humans centre of gravity ?
centre of gravity is the point at which the weight of the body is concentrated
- humans have longer legs than arms
increasing length of stride and lowers centre of gravity
-lowers centre of gravity creates stability during bipedalism
describe the humans muscle tone ?
muscle tone is partial contraction on muscles
- muscle tone supports upright position in hip, knee, ankle, abdominals and spine
describe the humans striding gait ?
striding gait is the full extension of the hip an knee into a straight position
- hominins are the only animals to have perfect locomotion
-foot has evolved to be weight bearing
what is The multiregional hypothesis?
Modern H. sapiens arose independently evolving from local communities of H. erectus [based on anatomical evidence]