Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Subject-specific Musculoskeletal Model for Studying Bone Strain During Dynamic Motion
09:32

Subject-specific Musculoskeletal Model for Studying Bone Strain During Dynamic Motion

Published on: April 11, 2018

Hand biomechanics during simulated stone tool use.

Campbell Rolian1, Daniel E Lieberman, John Paul Zermeno

  • 1Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Health Research Innovation Centre 3AC64, 3330 Hospital Drive N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada. cprolian@ucalgary.ca

Journal of Human Evolution
|March 23, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Longitudinal and cross-sectional evidence that daily resting and activity energy expenditures are independent in humans.

The Journal of physiology·2026
Same author

Non-invasive load measurement in the human tibia via spectral analysis of flexural waves.

Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·2026
Same author

Modular genetic architecture underlies human hand and foot evolution.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

The Conundrum of Exercise for Weight Management in the GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Era.

JAMA·2026
Same author

Advanced footwear technology versus minimalist footwear for injury prevention and performance in runners.

PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation·2026
Same author

Physical activity and metabolic rates in humans.

The Journal of experimental biology·2026

Human thumbs evolved for stone tool use, featuring longer digits and robust bones. This anatomy enhances gripping force and reduces joint stress, supporting Homo

Area of Science:

  • Paleoanthropology
  • Biomechanics
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Human radial digits (thumb and fingers) possess unique features like longer thumbs, larger joint surfaces, and developed thenar muscles compared to apes.
  • These distinct anatomical traits are hypothesized to be adaptations for manufacturing and utilizing stone tools.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the hypothesis that human radial digit morphology evolved for stone tool use, specifically for generating high gripping forces and managing joint stresses.
  • To quantify forces and joint stresses during simulated stone tool activities and assess the influence of digit morphology on these mechanics.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized portable force plates to simulate early stone tool use (hard-hammer percussion and flake use).
  • Collected force and kinematic data from 25 individuals with natural variation in digit morphology.

More Related Videos

Lower-Limb Biomechanical Characteristics Associated with Unplanned Gait Termination Under Different Walking Speeds
05:52

Lower-Limb Biomechanical Characteristics Associated with Unplanned Gait Termination Under Different Walking Speeds

Published on: August 25, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Subject-specific Musculoskeletal Model for Studying Bone Strain During Dynamic Motion
09:32

Subject-specific Musculoskeletal Model for Studying Bone Strain During Dynamic Motion

Published on: April 11, 2018

Lower-Limb Biomechanical Characteristics Associated with Unplanned Gait Termination Under Different Walking Speeds
05:52

Lower-Limb Biomechanical Characteristics Associated with Unplanned Gait Termination Under Different Walking Speeds

Published on: August 25, 2020

  • Employed partial correlations to analyze the impact of digit size and shape on biomechanics, controlling for tool reaction forces and impact velocities.

    • Main Results:

    • Individuals with longer digits exhibited reduced need for muscle force to stabilize joints and experienced lower joint contact stresses during tool use.
    • Increased robusticity of metacarpals and phalanges in humans, relative to chimpanzees, contributes to lower joint stresses.
    • Pan- or australopith-like thumb anatomy poses significant challenges for habitual tool use.

    Conclusions:

    • Evolutionary increases in human thumb length, robusticity, and thenar muscle mass facilitated greater force production and tolerance of higher joint stresses during stone tool activities.
    • The findings support the adaptation of human hand morphology for the demands of stone tool manufacture and use.