Class Slides Set 16A
The Skull
Many changes take place in
the skull . . .
The skull . . .
the “occipital condyles” have
moved forward to an
intermediary position . . .
The skull . . .
occipital condyles =
the hinges on which the skull
articulates with the spine
The skull . . .
foramen magnum =
the opening through which the
spinal cord passes from the
“cranium”
The skull . . .
the “foramen magnum” has
also moved forward and
downward . . .
Position of the foramen magnum in
(a) a human and (b) a chimpanzee.
Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 203
The skull . . .
cranium =
the skull without
the lower jaw
The skull . . .
the lower jaw =
mandible
Modern human cranium.
Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 432
The skull . . .
the eyes are placed at the
front of the head and operate
together . . .
– this results in stereoscopic vision and
3-D depth perception
Overlapping visual fields (binocular vision) in primates
Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 115
The skull of a gibbon (left) compared to that of a red wolf (right)
Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 116
The skull . . .
diurnal primates also have
color perception
• diurnal primates are those active
during the day, as are apes,
monkeys, and humans . . .
The skull . . .
some adult male apes
have a sharp crest along
the top of the skull –
“sagittal crest”
The skull . . .
heavy chewing and neck
muscles attach to the
sagittal crest
Satittal crests and temporal muscle orientations.
Hominid compared to pongid.
(Line of greatest muscle force is shown in red.)
Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 8th ed., p. 245
The “black skull,” WT 17000
Australopithecus aethiopicus
Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 8th ed., p. 237
The skull . . .
“sagittal ridge” – a
smaller slightly raised
ridge running down the
center of the skull
(aka “sagittal keel”)
Homo erectus
Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 227
The skull . . .
most apes have a
“supraorbital ridge”
over the eyes
The skull . . .
supraorbital ridge =
a marked bulge of bone across
the region over the eyes
Satittal crests and temporal muscle orientations.
Hominid compared to pongid.
(Line of greatest muscle force is shown in red.)
Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 8th ed., p. 245
The skull . . .
modern humans have
cranial base flexure
(basicranium) (bend)
Modern human cranium.
Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 432
The skull . . .
flexure in the base of
the skull (the basicranium)
seems to relate to
a low larynx . . .
Larynx / Pharynx
Humankind Emerging, 7th ed., p. 377
The skull . . .
larynx –
the voice box
(which contains the vocal cords)
The skull . . .
and a low larynx is
associated with a longer
pharynx . . .
The skull . . .
pharynx –
the throat above the larynx
Larynx / Pharynx
Humankind Emerging, 7th ed., p. 377
Larynx / Pharynx
Humankind Emerging, 7th ed., p. 377
The skull . . .
and a longer pharynx is
a feature associated
with human speech
The skull . . .
noses are elevated in
humans, and are
separated by the septum
into two chambers
The skull . . .
human upper lips are
relatively short, and are
never as thin as apes’
lips
Continue on to Set # 16B
Next: Brains
End of Class Slides Set # 16A
Continue on to Set # 16B