Class Slides Set 15B The Upper Body

brachiation erect walking and erect walking resulted in a number of postcranial changes

Skeleton of a brachiator (gibbon) Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 8th ed., p. 129

The upper body . . .

Continue on to Set # 16A The Skull

(rather than one with a simple curve) Humans developed an S-curved backbone (rather than one with a simple curve)

Human vertebral column (lateral view). Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 8th ed., p. 507

Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 8th ed., p. 223 Modern human skeleton Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 8th ed., p. 223

Human skeleton (Homo sapiens) – bipedal hominid. Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 8th ed., p. 507

Spine has become more massive and rigid, with fewer vertebrae . . .

Chest has become wider and more barrel-like

Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 8th ed., p. 223 Modern human skeleton Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 8th ed., p. 223

Shoulders have broadened

Human skeleton (Homo sapiens) – bipedal hominid. Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 8th ed., p. 507

Relatively longer necks have developed

Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 8th ed., p. 223 Modern human skeleton Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 8th ed., p. 223

Humankind Emerging, 7th ed., p. 190

The arms and hands . . .

The forelimbs of apes have become strengthened and elongated (relative to the length of the body)

Humankind Emerging, 7th ed., p. 240 Homo habilis Humankind Emerging, 7th ed., p. 240

Humankind Emerging, 7th ed., p. 113 Gorilla Humankind Emerging, 7th ed., p. 113

Hands become more hand-like . . .

Humankind Emerging, 7th ed., p. 174+

Power grip – (“prehensility”) a grip involving all fingers of the hand equally, as in grasping a baseball

Precision grip – (“opposability”) a grip that involves opposing the tip of the thumb to the tips of the other fingers

Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 8th ed., p. 513 Hand anatomy. Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 8th ed., p. 513

Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 8th ed., p. 121 Primate (Macaque) hand Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 8th ed., p. 121

The Primates, Time-Life (1974) p. 126 Two-year-old Baboon The Primates, Time-Life (1974) p. 126