Bipedality is an adaptation that enables human beings to walk using two legs, therefore, differentiating humans from the other animals (Wu et al. 2). However, other animals do it sometimes like birds when on the ground, kangaroos, and apes. Humans are a perfect example of bipedalism because they use two legs always unlike other animals that do it partially. Certain body structures are necessary for bipedality. These body parts include;
The pelvis of humans has blades that are not twisted and hold the internal organs when the humans are upright. Humans have more muscles in the pelvic region that keep the human body in an upright position.
The femur of humans is long and angles inwards hence supporting the weight of the body at the middle (Wu et al. 4). This enables the humans to walk more efficiently and take long strides while at it.
The knee joint of humans is movable because it comprises several bones. These bones are a femur, patella, and tibia which helps them to climb.
Humans arched feet act as a shock absorber and decreases chances of being tired. The big toe is usually enlarged to maintain balance.
The importance of the Laetoli footprints
Before the footprints were discovered, there was an argument about which developed first between bipedality and a large brain. They proved that humans had many bipedal years before the stone tools were made (Raichlen et al. 4). The stone tools proved development of a larger brain.
The footprints, through analysis, provided that the climate conditions at the time they were made were more productive than it is at the moment (Raichlen et al. 4). The climatic conditions are related to the upright walking by humans as they migrated from the forest to grasslands.
References
Raichlen, David A. et al. "Laetoli Footprints Preserve Earliest Direct Evidence of Human-Like Bipedal Biomechanics". PLoS ONE 5.3 (2010): e9769. Web. 29 May 2016.
Wu, Shaoyuan, et al. "The evolution of bipedalism in jerboas (Rodentia: Dipodoidea): origin in humid and forested environments." Evolution 68.7 (2014): 2108-2118.
