Gracility of the modern Homo sapiens skeleton is the result of decreased biomechanical loading.

ABSTRACT: The postcranial skeleton of modern Homo sapiens is relatively gracile compared with other hominoids and earlier hominins. This gracility predisposes contemporary humans to osteoporosis and increased fracture risk. Explanations for this gracility include reduced levels of physical activity, the dissipation of load through enlarged joint surfaces, and selection for systemic physiological characteristics that differentiate modern humans from other primates. This study considered the skeletal remains of four behaviorally diverse recent human populations and a large sample of extant primates to assess variation in trabecular bone structure in the human hip joint. Proximal femur trabecular bone structure was quantified from microCT data for 229 individuals from 31 extant primate taxa and 59 indi

SUBMITTER: Ryan TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4299204 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature