The Evolution of Quadrupedalism to Bipedalism

Running head: THE EVOLUTION OF QUADRUPEDALISM TO BIPEDALISM
THE EVOLUTION OF QUADRUPEDALISM TO BIPEDALISM
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1THE EVOLUTION OF QUADRUPEDALISM TO BIPEDALISM
Introduction:
The biochemical and physiological characteristics of locomotion in modern humans can
be understood with the help of an understanding of the evolution of human bipedalism (Lett,
2013). It is one of the feature that makes human different from all other primates, the habitual
use of a bipedal gait. Human being possess the feature that is considered as a defining
characteristics that skeleton adapts to bipedalism. It is the same theory that is used to trace the
origin of the ancestors and extinct hominid ancestors. In this essay the main focus is the
anatomical changes that human require in order to transform from quadrupedalism to bipedalism.
The essay also intend to discuss the behavioral changes that may accompany the physical
changes that are discussed along with the anatomical changes.
Discussion:
Over the past three decades various experimental analyses of locomotion in humans as
well as other primates have researched immensely in order to bring improvement in the
understanding of the mechanics of human locomotion. It has successfully provided insights into
the evolutionary origins of modern human bipedalism. When modern humans walk, they arch
over relatively firm lower limbs in such a way that the center of mass is at its lowest point at
heel-strike and rises to its highest point at midstance. And in the similar way the form and
structure of humans has come to a different form than hominids.
The modern human body is accustomed of walking miles with ease using two limbs.
According to Campbell, 2017, the anatomy of the modern human body has transformed its
anatomy into bipedalism and now it would be an impossible task to walk on the four limbs like
the way human ancestors have done. The process did not occur in fortnight but through decades.

2THE EVOLUTION OF QUADRUPEDALISM TO BIPEDALISM
However the concern is the reasons that made it possible. The adaptation in hominids of walking
straight is a feature that anthropologists use to differentiate hominids from apes. It is a split that
has occurred approximately five to six million years ago (Jurmain et al. 2017). However the
entire conversion from quadrupedalism to bipedalism was only until about 1.8 million years ago,
in Homo erectus. Although a larger brain was also observed in hominids as a sign of intelligence,
it is bipedalism that evolved much earlier than the expansion of brain.
According to Strier (2016), since the behavior of extinct hominids cannot be observed,
theories of bipedal origins use non-human primates as model for references. The preferred
models used by anthropologists are the chimpanzee and bonobo the bonobo is the best model in
terms of the physical appearance of the ancestors that is common in between. Anthropologists
have always been curious to find the reason for hominid ancestors adapt to bipedalism (Uomini,
2015). Early hominids were fully erect bipeds which gradually developed into fully bipedalism.
The anatomical changes associated with bipedalism is a wide and constant process of research
for anthropologists. There are many anatomical differences between an ape and a modern
human. The differences are constantly been a matter of research in order to find reasons for
hominids to become modern humans. Bipedalism is identified by various skeletal changes
(Kimbel et al. 2014). Among the skeletal changes, many of the adaptive compromises to the
homicides were there that evolved them. the particulars that included under the compromises are
the lower back problems caused by the pressure on the spine, complicated childbirth resulting
from a repositioned pelvis, knee problems and high chance of getting choked while eating that
was a importance of a lowered voice box. Although bipedalism was already a firm choice for
hominids five to six million years ago there are anatomical alterations that lead the shift from
quadrupedal to bipedal locomotion.