ANHB1102 Study Guide - Final Guide: Iliacus Muscle, Shoulder Girdle, Hip
3 Jun 2018
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TOPIC ELEVEN: Locomotion
Human Locomotion:
Human locomotion can be described as habitual, upright, bipedal and striding.
Hominids are anatomically committed to being bipeds, having sacrificed other
options for it. Human locomotion is uses only two limbs – the hindlimbs – and
through evolution, the hindlimbs of bipeds are longer when compared to other
primates. Human locomotion can be described as striding, moving one leg in
front of the other and keeping feet close together.
Advantages of Locomotion:
For human locomotion to be successful, major structural adaptations would have
been required. Different selective pressures would have been operating during
the evolution of bipedal walking, and subsequently, endurance running. Our
locomotor anatomy has been adapted to committed bipedalism for more than 3-
4 million years, way before the expansion of hominin brains.
Thermoregulation
Probably one of the biggest selection pressures acting on bipedal locomotion was
thermoregulation. Bipedal locomotion kelps animals living in warm climates to
keep cool by reducing the amount of sunlight that falls on the body. Bipedal
locomotion also increases the animals exposure to air, immersing it in lower
temperature air. However recent research indicates that thermoregulation may
have been more important in the evolution of running than the evolution of
walking.
Energy Efficiency
For an organism to be energy efficient, they need to be able to regulate their heat
and conserve their water. Each molecule of glucose metabolized to yield energy
also generates waste heat and uses water. So greater energy efficiency requires
minimization of waste heat and conservation of water. Energy expenditure for
human standing and walking is 75% less costly than quadrupedal walking.
Habitat Change and Facultative Bipedalism
In the late Miocene era, the climates started drying and fruiting trees became
separated by open country. Some hominins were no longer able to make a living
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Document Summary
Human locomotion can be described as habitual, upright, bipedal and striding. Hominids are anatomically committed to being bipeds, having sacrificed other options for it. Human locomotion is uses only two limbs the hindlimbs and through evolution, the hindlimbs of bipeds are longer when compared to other primates. Human locomotion can be described as striding, moving one leg in front of the other and keeping feet close together. For human locomotion to be successful, major structural adaptations would have been required. Different selective pressures would have been operating during the evolution of bipedal walking, and subsequently, endurance running. Our locomotor anatomy has been adapted to committed bipedalism for more than 3- 4 million years, way before the expansion of hominin brains. Probably one of the biggest selection pressures acting on bipedal locomotion was thermoregulation. Bipedal locomotion kelps animals living in warm climates to keep cool by reducing the amount of sunlight that falls on the body.
