Understanding the evolution of the windlass mechanism of the human foot from comparative anatomy
Insights, obstacles, and future directions
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 8319337 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Nicole L Griffin (Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology Temple University School of Medicine Philadelphia PA 19140, corresponding author), Christopher E Miller (0000-0002-8428-8392, University of South Wales), Charlotte E Miller (School of Applied Science University of South Wales UK), Daniel Schmitt (0000-0003-4314-5819, Department of Evolutionary Anthropology Duke University NC), Kristiaan D''Août (0000-0002-6043-7744, University of Liverpool) |
| Year | 2015 |
| Volume | 156 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 1-10 |
| Publication date | 2015-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | American Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1002/ajpa.22636 |
| PMID | 25303732 |
| OpenAlex | W1580090981 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 16 |
| References cited | 80 |
Humans stand alone from other primates in that we propel our bodies forward on a relatively stiff and arched foot and do so by employing an anatomical arrangement of bones and ligaments in the foot that can operate like a “windlass.” This is a significant evolutionary innovation, but it is currently unknown when during hominin evolution this mechanism developed and within what genera or species it originated. The presence of recently discovered fossils along with novel research in the past two decades have improved our understanding of foot mechanics in humans and other apes, making it possible to consider this question more fully. Here we review the main elements thought to be involved in the production of an effective, modern human‐like windlass mechanism. These elements are the triceps surae, plantar aponeurosis, medial longitudinal arch, and metatarsophalangeal joints. We discuss what is presently known about the evolution of these features and the challenges associated with identifying each of these specific components and/or their function in living and extinct primates for the purpose of predicting the presence of the windlass mechanism in our ancestors. In some cases we recommend alternative pathways for inferring foot mechanics and for testing the hypothesis that the windlass mechanism evolved to increase the speed and energetic efficiency of bipedal gait in hominins. Am J Phys Anthropol 156:1–10, 2015 © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc
Aponeurosis · Biology · Bipedalism · Evolutionary biology · Foot (prosody) · Human evolution · Mechanism (biology) · Physics · Anatomy · Computer Science · Foot and Ankle Surgery · Lower Extremity Biomechanics and Pathologies · Philosophy · Primate Behavior and Ecology
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Conarticular congruence of the hominoid subtalar joint complex with implications for joint function in Plio‐Pleistocene hominins
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First metatarsal trabecular bone structure in extant hominoids and Swartkrans hominins
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The Foot and Ankle of Australopithecus sediba
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Chimpanzee and human feet in bipedal walking
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Preliminary observations on the calcaneal trabecular microarchitecture of extant large‐bodied hominoids
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Evolution of the human foot
Joint orientation and function in great ape and human proximal pedal phalanges
The locomotor anatomy of Australopithecus afarensis
Segment and joint angles of hind limb during bipedal and quadrupedal walking of the bonobo ( Pan paniscus )
Metatarsophalangeal joint function and positional behavior in Australopithecus afarensis
Kinematics of the cercopithecine foot on arboreal and terrestrial substrates with implications for the interpretation of hominid terrestrial adaptations
The calcaneus of Australopithecus afarensis and its implications for the evolution of bipedality
Comparative forefoot trabecular bone architecture in extant hominids
Metatarsal torsion in monkeys, apes, humans and australopiths
Comparative in vivo forefoot kinematics of Homo sapiens and Pan paniscus
Re-appraisal of the stratigraphy and determination of new U-Pb dates for the Sterkfontein hominin site, South Africa
Locomotor anatomy and biomechanics of the Dmanisi hominins
| Unique citing works | 16 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1,45 |
| Citation span | 2015 - 2026 (12) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 15 |