Anatomy homework help

Laney Lab Exercise: Comparative Anatomy April 13
 
Comparative Anatomy Exercise:
 
After viewing “Prehistoric Autopsy: Lucy” (see link to video in “Announcement” on Canvas for this week) please complete the following lab
 
Steps to Complete This:
 

  • Go to eskeletons.org – this will be the source of your virtual skeletal material. Explore the site, get to know how to get to bone material, and how to get to text material

 

  • Using the bone imagery there, and in your textbook, please answer the following questions:
    1. Compare the shape of the femur of a chimpanzee, a modern human, and Australopithecus afarensis.
      1. Are the condyles of the distal femur more similar between Australopithecus afarensis and a chimp, or a modern human (Homo sapiens)? Describe them, and support your conclusion
      2. Are the head and neck of the proximal femur more similar between Australopithecus afarensis and a chimp, or a modern human? Describe them, and support your conclusion
  • Note that the chimpanzee femur is very straight, while the A. afarensis and H. sapiens femurs are shaped differently. Why is that?

 

  • Using your own anatomy, stand up. Lock your knees. Take a few steps. Answer these questions:
    1. When standing, why is it important that you can lock your knees?
    2. When walking, why is it important that your hallux (big toe) is parallel to the other toes?
    3. Your tibia are vertical (at a 90 degree angle) to the ground when you stand upright. How about your femur? Is it in line with your tibia, or does it angle out?
    4. Using the internet, look up video of a chimpanzee walking bipedally. Are you a better biped than that chimp? Using your anatomy, explain why: