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Main Authors: Hershkovitz, Israel, Latimer, Bruce, Abbas, Janan, Hejja, Mila, Medlej, Bahaa, Rapoport, Hanan, Kedar, Einat, Ezra, David, Rybak, Ian, Sella Tunis, Tatiana, Zohar, Irit, Dar, Gali
Format: Artículo científico
Language:en
Published: Life (Basel, Switzerland) 2026
Online Access:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41900984/
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author Hershkovitz, Israel
Latimer, Bruce
Abbas, Janan
Hejja, Mila
Medlej, Bahaa
Rapoport, Hanan
Kedar, Einat
Ezra, David
Rybak, Ian
Sella Tunis, Tatiana
Zohar, Irit
Dar, Gali
author_facet Hershkovitz, Israel
Latimer, Bruce
Abbas, Janan
Hejja, Mila
Medlej, Bahaa
Rapoport, Hanan
Kedar, Einat
Ezra, David
Rybak, Ian
Sella Tunis, Tatiana
Zohar, Irit
Dar, Gali
Hershkovitz, Israel
Latimer, Bruce
Abbas, Janan
Hejja, Mila
Medlej, Bahaa
Rapoport, Hanan
Kedar, Einat
Ezra, David
Rybak, Ian
Sella Tunis, Tatiana
Zohar, Irit
Dar, Gali
collection PubMed - marine biology
contents Evolutionary Specializations of the Human Vertebral Body and Intervertebral Disc in Relation to Bipedalism. Hershkovitz, Israel Latimer, Bruce Abbas, Janan Hejja, Mila Medlej, Bahaa Rapoport, Hanan Kedar, Einat Ezra, David Rybak, Ian Sella Tunis, Tatiana Zohar, Irit Dar, Gali It is widely accepted that modern humans display distinctive vertebral and intervertebral disc (IVD) morphologies that evolved to meet the biomechanical demands of habitual terrestrial bipedalism. This study synthesizes macro- and microstructural differences in the lumbar spine to clarify how human specializations compare with those of extant apes. The skeletal sample consisted of 240 humans, 20 chimpanzees, and 25 gorillas. The CT scan sample comprised 180 humans and eight chimpanzees. Histological analysis of the IVD was performed on 10 humans and four ape specimens. Vertebral bodies and discs were measured. Histological analyses employed hematoxylin-eosin, Von Kossa, and Van Gieson staining. Statistical analyses included ANOVA with Bonferroni-corrected -tests or Welch's ANOVA and Games-Howell post hoc tests. Regression analyses were performed using ordinary least-squares estimation, and differences between regression lines were assessed using ANCOVA. Humans and chimpanzees differed significantly in vertebral body proportions, bone volume fraction, IVD thickness, apophyseal ring thickness, annulus fibrosus lamellar organization, endplate and subchondral bone thickness, and vascularization at the bone-endplate interface. These results indicate substantial evolutionary modification of the human vertebral body and IVD, enhancing rotational mobility and resistance to axial loading, key functional requirements for maintaining upright posture and efficient bipedal locomotion.
format Artículo científico
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institution PubMed
language en
publishDate 2026
publisher Life (Basel, Switzerland)
record_format pubmed
spellingShingle Evolutionary Specializations of the Human Vertebral Body and Intervertebral Disc in Relation to Bipedalism.
Hershkovitz, Israel
Latimer, Bruce
Abbas, Janan
Hejja, Mila
Medlej, Bahaa
Rapoport, Hanan
Kedar, Einat
Ezra, David
Rybak, Ian
Sella Tunis, Tatiana
Zohar, Irit
Dar, Gali
Evolutionary Specializations of the Human Vertebral Body and Intervertebral Disc in Relation to Bipedalism. Hershkovitz, Israel Latimer, Bruce Abbas, Janan Hejja, Mila Medlej, Bahaa Rapoport, Hanan Kedar, Einat Ezra, David Rybak, Ian Sella Tunis, Tatiana Zohar, Irit Dar, Gali It is widely accepted that modern humans display distinctive vertebral and intervertebral disc (IVD) morphologies that evolved to meet the biomechanical demands of habitual terrestrial bipedalism. This study synthesizes macro- and microstructural differences in the lumbar spine to clarify how human specializations compare with those of extant apes. The skeletal sample consisted of 240 humans, 20 chimpanzees, and 25 gorillas. The CT scan sample comprised 180 humans and eight chimpanzees. Histological analysis of the IVD was performed on 10 humans and four ape specimens. Vertebral bodies and discs were measured. Histological analyses employed hematoxylin-eosin, Von Kossa, and Van Gieson staining. Statistical analyses included ANOVA with Bonferroni-corrected -tests or Welch's ANOVA and Games-Howell post hoc tests. Regression analyses were performed using ordinary least-squares estimation, and differences between regression lines were assessed using ANCOVA. Humans and chimpanzees differed significantly in vertebral body proportions, bone volume fraction, IVD thickness, apophyseal ring thickness, annulus fibrosus lamellar organization, endplate and subchondral bone thickness, and vascularization at the bone-endplate interface. These results indicate substantial evolutionary modification of the human vertebral body and IVD, enhancing rotational mobility and resistance to axial loading, key functional requirements for maintaining upright posture and efficient bipedal locomotion.
title Evolutionary Specializations of the Human Vertebral Body and Intervertebral Disc in Relation to Bipedalism.
url https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41900984/