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Human feeding biomechanics: performance, variation, and functional constraints.
Justin A Ledogar1, Paul C Dechow2, Qian Wang2
1Zoology Division, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia; Department of Anthropology, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York, United States.
Peerj
|August 23, 2016
Summary
Modern human craniofacial evolution shows reduced feeding system size. Finite element analysis suggests human faces are not optimized for forceful biting, challenging previous hypotheses.
Area of Science:
- Paleoanthropology
- Biomechanics
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Modern human crania exhibit a gracile feeding system, contrasting with robust ancestral forms.
- Two hypotheses exist: reduced feeding system due to softer foods/tool use, or adaptation for powerful bites.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test opposing hypotheses on human craniofacial adaptation for bite force generation and resistance.
- To compare human craniofacial biomechanics with chimpanzees using finite element analysis.
Main Methods:
- Finite element analysis (FEA) was employed on diverse human and chimpanzee crania.
- Biomechanical models simulated unilateral molar biting with scaled muscle loads.
Main Results:
- Human crania were less structurally stiff than chimpanzee crania during biting.
- Humans efficiently produce bite force, but unilateral biting generates risky joint forces.
- Intraspecific variation in human crania showed similar mechanical behavior.
Conclusions:
- Human craniofacial evolution was likely not driven by selection for high-magnitude unilateral biting.
- Increased masticatory muscle efficiency may be a byproduct of other selective pressures.
- Gracilization aligns with a shift to softer foods and pre-oral processing, relaxing selection for forceful biting.
