NCEA Level 3 Human Evolution

A - Endocranial

Cranium volume 450, no specialised areas developed.

A - Feet

Flat feet, big toe separate, facing outwards from foot and opposable (grasping branches and climbing trees)

A - Femur,Knee Joint, Valgus Angle

Femur hangs vertically from hip, knee joint, no buttresses or valgus angle (gives better swinging motion in branches)

A - Skull External

Foramen magnum and back of skull, large brow ridges, sagittal crest, nuchal crest.

A - Teeth and Jaws

Larger teeth and jaws, large canines (display, sexual diapmorphism) distema on upper tooth row, jaw and tooth row U shape.

Acheulian

Tool culture of Homo erectus and archaic H. sapiens. Pear-shaped hand axes.

arboreal life

life in the trees, opposable thumb was important in result of this

Australopithecus

Group of extinct omnivorous bipedal hominins. Includes A. anamensis, afarensis, africanus and some others.

Biological Evolution

Evolution of bone, muscle, physiology and inherited behaviour. To be distinguished from cultural evolution (transmission of factors inherited from parents)

Bipedalisim Advantages

Thermoregulation, Carrying Objects, Height, Energy Efficient

Bipedalism

Walking on 2 legs. Only Australopithecus, Paranthropus and Homo genuses.

Brachiation

Swinging by arms as apes do.

Brow ridge

Bony projection protecting eyes. Prominent in early hominins.

Condyle

Buttress of bone on the base of the femur. Humans have this on the outer base and apes on the inner. It prevents collapse of the knee inwards.

Cultural Evolution

(transmission of beliefs, ideas, knowledge by learning from other members of group) Tools, Fire, Shelter, Clothing, Food-Gathering, Abstract thought, Domestication of plants and animals.

Diastema

Gap between incisors and canines to allow for space for the large canines.

H - Endocranial

Cranium volume 1400, Speacialised areas: Cerebellum (balance, swelling at back), Cerebrum (thinking skills, top surface expanded and folded), Broca's area (speech production), Wernicke's area (understanding speecha and writing) both swelling left side.

H - Feet

Arched (shock absorbing; walk longer distances). Toes face forward, longer big toe (provides thrust). Big heel bone (firm base to push against for walking/running)

H - Femur,Knee Joint, Valgus Angle

Femur hangs inward angle from hip (center of gravity between feet) Knee Joint (maintains centre of gravity) Buttresses (creates valgus angle, prevents sideways movemetn of lower leg)

H - Skull External

Foramen magnum at centre of base of skull (skull balances at top of spine). No brow ridges, sagittal crest or nuchal crest. Smaller neck muscles (skull balances)

H - Teeth and Jaws

Smaller teeth and jaws (tools cutting up and fire softening). Enamel thicker and canines small. Jaw and tooth row more parabolic shaped.

hominid

early ancestor on human family tree that includes apes and humans.

Hominin

Subfamily that includes humans and bipedal fossils like Australopithecus and Paranthropus. Also called hominid.

hominids

all apes and humans

Homo

Genus to which humans below. Ranging from 2 million years ago (mya) to the present day. Brain size >600cc

Homo erectus

The direct ancestors of Homo Sapiens. Approx 1mya. Migrated to other parts of africa. Less hairy, no chin, arches over eyes. Larger brain (1000cc) with more cortex allowing higher functioning. More complex tools. Teeth changed to meat eaters

Homo habilis

The 'handy man', first to use very primitive tools. Approx 2mya. East Africa. Stature; smaller teeth and jaw, human size, dominant brow ridge, sloping skull. Brain size approz 600cc

Homo sapiens

Our species. Physical features: Flat high dome forehead, no arches over eyes, 1300cc brain.

HvA - Chest

H: Flattened front to back, oval in cross-section (body weight brought close to spine and over centre of gravity. A: Rounded front to back, circular on cross-section (organs supported by rubs and large abdominal muscles)

HvA - Hair and Skin

H: finer and shorter hair but same number per cm3 and more sweat glands (cooling capacity for higher activity rates). A: thicker hairs, fewer sweat glands (insulation from sun, lower activity rates)

HvA - Hands

H: Fully opposable thumb, straight fingers (manipulative precision grip). A: Short, opposable thumb and curved fingers (power grip and hooking)

HvA - Pelvis

H: short and wide (reduces stress of upper body weight in hips, supports abdominal organs). A: tall and narrow (large surface area for leg muscle placement)

HvA - Pharynx and Larynx

H: longer P, lower L (modifies sound and tone of speech). A: shorter P, higher L (modification of tone and sound cannot occur)

HvA - Spine

H: S shape (keeps body weight above hip joints) A: Slightly curved (counterbalances downward force of organs and chest)

HvA - Limbs

H: lower limbs elongated/ thigh 20% humans A: 11% gorillas

Mesolithic

Middle Stone Age, characterized by fishing and foraging for wild grains.

Mousterian

Tool culture of Neanderthals.

Neolithic

New Stone Age — age of agriculture.

Nuchal crest

Attachment at the back of the skull for attachment of neck muscles.

Oldowan

Tool culture of Homo habilis.

opposable thumb

when thumb can touch fore fingers, only primates have these features.

Palaeolithic

Old Stone Age.

Paranthropus

Genus of vegetarian hominins includes P. aethiopicus, robustus and boisei.

Pelvis

basin shaped to support internal organs/ iliac blades shorter and broader/ stabilizes weight transmission

Prognathism

Having a protruding muzzle.

Quern stone

Rounded stone used for grinding grains into flour.

Sagittal crest

Bony projection on top of the cranium for attachment of chewing muscles.

Sexual dimorphism

Where the male is larger and has structural differences from the female.

Upper Palaeolithic

Culture of Homo sapiens.

Valgus angle

Carrying angle; the angle, less than 180°, between the femur and tibia. It indicates bipedalism.

Wernicke's area

Area in the brain concerned with recognition of speech.

Zygomatic arch

Bone structure on side of cheek through which the chewing muscles go.

Multiregional Hypothesis

the hypothesis that modern humans originated through a process of simultaneous local transition from Homo erectus to Homo sapiens throughout the inhabited world. There was gene flow between H. species

Out of Africa Hypothesis

a model for the geographical spread of Homo sapiens which suggests that humans first developed and evolved in Africa before migrating outwards and expanding their colonies, replacing the earlier hominins that had spread prior. Also known as the African replacement model

Homo heidelbergensis

A transitional species between Homo erectus and Homo sapiens

Homo neanderthalensis

the species before us homo sapiens; lived form 30,000 to 300,000 years ago; they were stronger and had bigger brains

Broca's area

Area of the brain - controls speech