Chimp+&+Human+Skeletons

What are the similarities and differences between chimpanzee and human skeletons?

 * one of the most important features of the human skeleton is that the body is concentrated into a narrow column above the feet. as a result, the body weight is borne mainly by bone rather than by muscular energy.
 * in an ape, the foramen magnum lies towards the rear of the skull, so large neck muscles are needed to prevent the head from sagging forward.in humans the foramen magnum lies more or less in the centre of the skull, so the skull is balancedon the first neck vertebra, so little muscular energy is used to support the skull.
 * an apes spine has a gentle curve and a human's spine is an 's' shaped. the 'S'shape of the human spine enables the weight of the upper body to be carried nearly directly above the hip joints.
 * in humans the hip bone forms a bowl shape support for the abdominal organs. its reduced height reduces the stress on the part of the ilium that transmits the entire weight of the upper body from the backbone to the hip joint.
 * unlike chimps, humans are 'knock kneed', each knee being almost directly underneath the centre of the hip girdle. as a result, when one foot is lifted off the ground the other is only slightly to one side of the centre of gravity and there is little tendency for the body to lose blance.

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 * **one of the most important features of the human skeleton is that the body is concentrated into a narrow column above the feet. as a result, the body weight is borne mainly by bone, rather than by muscular energy.**