questions on evolution Flashcards
what is protadactyl
describes a limb with five fingers or toes
what is opposability
the ability to use the thumb to touch the tips of each of the other digits on the hand
what is the carrying angle
the arrangement of the thigh bones to form an angle to the vertical
what does the carrying angle achieve
allows weight distribution to remain close to the central axis of the body during walking.
as well as allows for stability during walking, as the body can be rotated around the lower legs and foot, allowing each footstep to be more or less straight
what is a convolution
an upward fold of the cerebral crtex of the brain, also called the gyrus
what is the dental arcade
the number of each tooth that a species has can be expressed as a dental formula
what is primative mammals dental arcade
3:1:4:3
what are some changes in hominid lifestyle
hominids used resources more effectively/used more variety of resources/understood how to use their environment better
hominids completed more complex jobs/did finer work/had time to create
hominids had more specialised roles within communities
what advantage does prognathism do
Helps the skull balance on top of the vertebral column
Reduction in neck muscles to support skull
what is prognathism
Forward-jutting/protruding jaw
what do the curves in the S shape vertebrae do
Cervical Curve - Brings the vertebral column directly under the centre of gravity
Lumbar Curve- Improves body balance in upright position and enables the head to balance on top of the neck
what is prehensile
grasping, refers to the digits of a hand or a foot that can grasp am object
