ANTH-UA 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Foramen Magnum, Homeostasis, Quadrupedalism
30 Oct 2014
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Document Summary
Hominids have forelimbs longer than hind limbs. Shortening the fore limbs and elongating our hind limbs in comparison to primates. Lost external tail (remnants of our external tails is our coccyx) Our scapula and thorax is different and adjusted due to upright and hindleg driven fast position. Complete range of motion due to unique thorax and scapula. Dietary change toward powerful chewing (we don"t tend to use) Hominids are one of the few mammals with sparser hair. Occasional genetic disorders that trigger heavy hair covering. Lanugo in infants had hair and then lose it. Due to bigger size, we have homeostasis and need more help losing heat. Hair retains heat that we don"t need hence the sparser covering on us. We have a great amount of volume (which produces heat) but a smaller amount of surface area (which dissipates heat) because we are bigger. Hair helps to identify and recognizing different species. Focus on faces in both primates and humans.
