The spinal cord passes through an opening in the skull and connects to the brain.Which development in human evolution does the study of this feature of our anatomy shed light on?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The opening in the skull through which the spinal cord passes is called the foramen magnum. In early human ancestors, the position of the foramen magnum gradually shifted from being towards the back of the skull to being towards the center, indicating a trend towards upright posture. Therefore, studying this feature sheds light on the evolution of upright posture in humans.

Note: This feature does not directly relate to primate vision, intelligence, or manual dexterity.

The Spinal Cord Passes Through an Opening in the Skull