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The evolution and functional morphology of the wrist in hominids: A 3D quantitative comparison
Author(s) -
Tocheri Matt W
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a601-b
Subject(s) - wrist , gorilla , evolutionary biology , anatomy , bipedalism , quadrupedalism , hominidae , biology , pongo pygmaeus , primate , australopithecus , homo sapiens , morphology (biology) , zoology , biological evolution , geography , paleontology , genetics , archaeology
Homo , Pan , Gorilla , and Pongo (family Hominidae) share many anatomical features of the wrist due to descent from a common ancestor. However, each genus displays distinct combinations of features that distinguish it from the others. 3D modeling and analytical tools are used to perform quantitative analyses of carpal joint surface areas and orientations, in order to test whether certain combinations of wrist features are morphological adaptations to particular behaviors. These comparative analyses throw light on the recent evolution of hominid wrist morphology and the complex relationship between wrist anatomy and hand function in locomotor and manipulative behaviors. Multivariate statistical analyses identify significant differences in wrist anatomy in each genus. The largest differences are observed in Homo compared with the great apes, as well as in Pongo compared with Homo , Pan , and Gorilla . For example, the wrist in Homo is completely reconfigured to more efficiently handle and distribute forces radio‐ulnarly during manipulative behaviors whereas the great apes display the ancestral condition, which is more efficient for handling and distributing loads proximo‐distally during locomotor behaviors. In total, Homo and Pongo show the strongest evidence of morphological adaptation in the wrist, the former for tool‐dependant manipulative behaviors and the latter for suspensory locomotion.