ANTHRO 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: East Los Angeles College, Foramen Magnum, Tooth Eruption
Document Summary
Upper canine no longer hones/sharpens on the 1st premolar. Loss of diastema (space between teeth teeth gap) Change in shape of the dental arcade from u-shape (parallel molars) to a parabola. Was initially thought that the larger brain was the defining trait of hominid radiation. Large brain was actually observed later in hominin evolution (i. e. , habilis) Longer gestation, juvenile period, and growth than apes. Hard to really observe in fossil record. Apes have complex cognition and some ability to use tools not as developed as hominins. Bipedalism came first before increase in brain size. In quadrupeds, it is further behind the skull. Bipeds do not, due to the wider pelvis. Bringing knees together at the centre of gravity. Femoral neck (joint between femur and pelvis) Increase in size necessary for bipedalism, but very easy to break trade off. Arched foot relieves pressure from the rest of the body as you walk.
