ANTH 101 Study Guide - Final Guide: Foramen Magnum, Radiometric Dating, Prognathism
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Be able to list and describe the features from head to toe. The position of the magnum foramen changes from the posterior to the bottom of the skull, the vertebral column becomes s-shaped, and the vertebrae increase in size as they go down. The pelvis becomes shorter and more comprehensive to help with balance; femurs are angled inwards to bring the center of gravity under the body. The big toe is non-distal, and the foot arches to increase shock absorption. Shorter arms and fingers and less curvature: discuss hypotheses for the origin of bipedalism in hominins. It is more energy efficient to be bipedal than a knucklewalker. 60-70% of the time on the ground anyway, more time arboreal, so it makes sense to be bipedal. Because there are multiple species in each of these groups, we are focusing on general trends that define the group. For each group, you should know the following:
