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The evolution of human bipedalism: How did it change our bodies?
The ability of humans to walk upright is a fascinating evolutionary process that began with primitive apes about four million years ago, and some scholars have even traced it back to the Sahelanthropus or Sahelites about seven million years ago. Danuvius about 12 million years ago. This process not only shaped the way we walk, but also significantly changed the anatomy of our bodies, especially the arrangement, shape and size of our bones.
These changes gave humans an energy-efficient advantage over quadrupeds in terms of upright walking.
The evolution of energy efficiency
Research shows that human walking consumes about 75% less energy than the same quadrupedal walking method. In some hypotheses, the energetic efficiency of upright walking may have been a key factor in its evolution. Although humans save a lot of energy when walking, the same cannot be said for running, which is only 25% as efficient as walking. This means that although walking upright makes it easier for us to move, the way we move still needs to evolve further.
Structure of the feet
As human feet evolved, their structure changed significantly, with the heel growing larger and evolving into a platform capable of supporting the weight of the entire body. Compared to our early bipedal ancestors, our toes have become smaller, especially the big toe, which is positioned more aligned with the other toes. This change makes human propulsion more efficient and less energy intensive.
The structure of the human foot allows weight to be transferred in a more efficient manner, thereby promoting energy conservation.
Knee and limb design
Human knees are larger in order to support more body weight. With the evolution of bipedalism, leg length has increased significantly. This change allows leg muscles to function more efficiently, allowing humans to stand for long periods of time without feeling tired.
Changes in the hips and pelvis
Humans have slightly larger hip joints than quadrupeds, and are flatter and wider in shape to better support body weight and help maintain balance. These structural changes not only enhance stability during movement, but also improve the birth canal, making the delivery process smoother.
These changes in the pelvis not only affect walking, but are also an evolutionary adaptation for female childbirth.
Structure and evolution of the spine
The human spine adopts a unique S-shape, which not only makes it easier to keep the body's center of gravity on the feet, but also greatly reduces the force required to stand or walk. Therefore, this structure of the spine has energy-saving advantages that cannot be underestimated.
Adaptability of the skull
The shape of the human skull is closely related to upright walking. The location of the hole at the base of the skull allows the weight of the head to be better balanced on the spine, reducing the impact of an unstable center of gravity. Humans also have larger brains than other similar species, an increase that was crucial for adapting to the environment and improving our chances of survival.
The impact of lifestyle and upright walking
Although the human skeletal structure has undergone many changes with the advent of upright walking, some features are still not perfectly adapted to bipedal walking. For example, low back pain and knee problems are increasingly common in humans today and are closely related to past evolution.
ConclusionEven though it has evolved to walk upright, the human body still has flaws that make it susceptible to health problems.
Human upright walking not only changed our body structure, but also shaped our lifestyle. So, will future evolution bring more changes that will make us better able to adapt to environmental challenges?
