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 Videos

Metatarsophalangeal joint function and positional behavior in Australopithecus afarensis

A S Duncan1, J Kappelman, L J Shapiro

  • 1Department of Anthropology, University of Texas at Austin 78712-1086.

American Journal of Physical Anthropology
|January 1, 1994
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

Report of the Royal Maternity and Simpson Memorial Hospital for the Quarter Ending 31st January 1891.

Transactions. Edinburgh Obstetrical Society·2018
Same author

New discoveries of skeletal elements of Hadropithecus stenognathus from Andrahomana Cave, southeastern Madagascar.

Journal of human evolution·2006
Same author

Relocation of the 1936 Mojokerto skull discovery site near Perning, East Java.

Journal of human evolution·2006
Same author

Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 in the Canary Islands: a conformational disease due to I244T mutation in the P11L-containing alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2003
Same author

Assessing the accuracy of high-resolution X-ray computed tomography of primate trabecular bone by comparisons with histological sections.

American journal of physical anthropology·2002
Same author

Morphometric variation in the hominoid orbital aperture: a case study with implications for the use of variable characters in Miocene catarrhine systematics.

Journal of human evolution·2001

Australopithecus afarensis pedal morphology suggests a mixed locomotor behavior. This study indicates A. afarensis was a capable climber, with foot joint orientations intermediate between apes and humans.

Area of Science:

  • Paleoanthropology
  • Biomechanics
  • Primate Anatomy

Background:

  • Conflicting interpretations of Australopithecus afarensis locomotor behavior exist.
  • Pedal morphology is key to understanding australopithecine locomotion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantitatively assess the functional morphology of australopithecine metatarsophalangeal joints.
  • To compare A. afarensis pedal joint orientation with modern humans and apes.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized computer-aided design (CAD) software for quantitative analysis.
  • Measured angular orientation of articular surfaces in metatarsals and phalanges.
  • Included samples of A. afarensis, Homo sapiens, Pan troglodytes, Gorilla gorilla, and Pongo pygmaeus.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Humans exhibit dorsally oriented proximal pedal phalangeal articular surfaces, linked to bipedal dorsiflexion.
  • Pongo (orangutans) show plantarly oriented surfaces, associated with arboreal locomotion.
  • A. afarensis falls intermediate between African apes and humans in pedal joint orientation.

Conclusions:

  • The pedal morphology of A. afarensis suggests a combination of arboreal and bipedal capabilities.
  • Findings support evidence of A. afarensis as an adept climber.
  • Further analysis of metatarsal heads is needed for conclusive functional morphology assessment.