|
|
Surface depressions of the bony pelvis in relation to childbirth and pregnancy
Medvedevová, Elina ; Rmoutilová, Rebeka (advisor) ; Brůžek, Jaroslav (referee)
This bachelor's thesis describes the depressions of the pelvic bony surface, which are described in the literature as "indicators of childbirth", and summarizes the data on whether pelvic bony depressions can be associated with pregnancy and childbirth, and what other factors may be involved in the formation of these depressions. The "birth indicators" include the preauricular grooves and the dorsal fossa of the pubic bone. Historically, they have been attributed to the course of pregnancy and childbirth when physiological and hormonal changes occur. However, more recent studies and new research methods have attributed the development of these depressions not only to pregnancy but also to pelvic shape, age, increased BMI of the person, physical activity, or medical complications. A variety of factors can contribute to the development of bone surface depression in both women and men. For this reason, so-called "birth indicators" cannot be considered a reliable indicator of completed pregnancy and childbirth, and secondary use of knowledge of these depressions in sex estimation, especially by application in forensic sciences. However, it should be noted that the difference in the frequency of depression between the sexes is significant, as the incidence of such depression is more frequent and marked...
|
|
|
Variability of spinopelvic alignment in human evolution
Mrázková, Karolína ; Rmoutilová, Rebeka (advisor) ; Hora, Martin (referee)
Spinopelvic alignment is caudal part of spine and pelvis, its sagittal geometry keeps stability of upright posture and bipedal locomotion. The aim of this bachelors thesis is to describe factors which influence spinopelvic parametres and to summarize main changes of spinopelvic alignment in the human evolution. Although during ontogenesis spinopelvic alignment is formed by acquisition of upright posture and bipedal locomotion, it is very variable in modern human and some parameters stay relatively plastic whole life. It enables to keep biomechanically useful geometry of spinopelvic alignment and to compsate factors which influence spinopelvic alignment. During evolution of hominins spinopelvic alignment changed in context of using bipedalism. It seems that there were exceptions which suggest that there was not just one adaptive way to upright posture and bipedalism.
|
|
|
Diachronic changes in the morphology and sexual dimorphism of the skull in the territory of Bohemia and Moravia
Letošníková, Lenka ; Bejdová, Šárka (advisor) ; Rmoutilová, Rebeka (referee)
This diploma thesis is devoted to diachronic changes in skull morphology and sexual dimorphism of the early modern and recent population from the territory of Bohemia and Moravia. The two populations are roughly 500 years apart in time, so it can be assumed that each group was affected by different environmental influences. While individuals from the early modern period, coming from the middle class, are assumed to be affected by unfavorable living conditions (insufficient hygiene, malnutrition, etc.), the recent population is exposed to more favorable socioeconomic conditions. A number of studies agree that quality living conditions have an effect on the morphology of the skull in the sense of narrowing and increasing the cranial vault, and at the same time have a positive effect on the manifestation of sexual dimorphism. The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the variability and degree of sexual dimorphism in skull morphology and to describe diachronic changes of the skull in early modern and recent populations. According to the established hypotheses, we assume that the skull of the recent population will have a higher and narrower cranial vault and facial part as a result of the improvement of living conditions and will show more pronounced sexual dimorphism. A total of 174 skulls were analyzed...
|
|
|
Pelvic motion during human locomotion
Hakrová, Kristýna ; Hora, Martin (advisor) ; Rmoutilová, Rebeka (referee)
Previous studies focused on pelvic rotation in relation to step length suggest that (notwithstanding a few other factors) step length is influenced by pelvic rotation. This mechanism is closely linked to australopithecines as the rotation of their relatively wide pelvis allowed them to elongate their step and therefore minimise the energy expenditure whilst covering long distances. Recent studies suggest pelvic rotation is not as a significant contributor to step length as previously suggested. However, most of these studies only focused on walking on level surfaces, and thus the relation between pelvic rotation and step length whilst in locomotion on a slope is undetermined. The aim of this paper is to identify the factors affecting step length, the range of individual pelvic motions, and to build a scheme/pattern of pelvic motions and step length interaction. In the study we used 3D data from 60 volunteers (26 men, 34 women) between the ages of 19 and 38 walking and running (at their own comfortable pace) on a treadmill at three different angles (level, 15 degrees downwards, and 15 degrees upwards). We worked with the average step length and the average pelvic motion range on each slope and with each volunteer given six variables (walking, running - downhill, uphill, level). In order to focus on...
|
|
|
Sexual dimorphism in the human pelvis - its origin, evolutionary and functional implications
Kubátová, Lucie ; Rmoutilová, Rebeka (advisor) ; Bejdová, Šárka (referee)
Sexual dimorphism in the human pelvis is usually being explained as an adaptation to upright walking and giving birth to newborns with large heads. This process led to the formation of a complicated birth mechanism. A relationship between size of the mother's pelvis and a head of the fetus is called an obstetrical dilemma. Under the influence of this evolution concept, the female pelvis is considered a strongly limited evolutionary structure. It is necessary that the female pelvis is wide enough, so that a baby can be born while allowing an effective bipedalism at the same time. Recent publications, however, are discussing this concept focusing more on the pelvic variability in the population. New findings have recently emerged concerning effects of ecological factors and neutral processes. The hypothesis of the developmental concept of the obstetrical dilemma is also proposed. Together, all these findings undermine the original model of human pelvis evolution, which is primarily based on selective compromise between two contradictory forces. The aim of the thesis is to describe the evolution of pelvic structures during evolution, to summarize the factors that contribute to the origin of sexual dimorphism in human pelvis and to approach the birth mechanism of humans compared to primates. Keywords...
|
|
|
Ontogeny of the human bone robusticity
Königová, Viktória ; Sládek, Vladimír (advisor) ; Rmoutilová, Rebeka (referee)
Measures of bone robusticity are used in order to reconstruct habitual activity of past populations. The aim of this bachelor thesis is to summarize the development of bone biomechanical properties and to create an overview of the factors affecting the ontogeny of human bone robusticity. The covered influences include genetics, ecogeographical environment and subsistence strategies. An emphasis is put on the mechanical load as it is considered a key determinant of postcranial robusticity. Additionally, the interplay of these factors and its influence on the adult robusticity is discussed. Key words: bone functional adaptation, habitual activity, ontogeny, robusticity, strain
|
|
|
Virtual reconstruction, interests and contribution to the paleobiological studies of fossil humans
Rmoutilová, Rebeka ; Brůžek, Jaroslav (advisor) ; Berillon, Gilles (referee) ; Macholán, Miloš (referee)
Preservation is a major obstacle in paleoanthropological studies. Since 1990s virtual methods have become an important part of anthropological research helping to overcome preservation problems in two principle ways: they improve extraction of information from a fragmentary material, and they permit a more objective reconstruction of fragmentary and incomplete remains. This thesis has focused on the virtual reconstruction of two fossil specimens: the modern human cranium from the Upper Paleolithic site of Zlatý kůň (ZK; Czech Republic) and the Neandertal Regourdou 1 (R1) pelvis (France). The reconstruction of the ZK cranium allowed us to revise sex attribution and analyze morphological affinity. Based on the secondary sex diagnosis, the ZK individual was most probably a female and exhibits a great affinity to Early Upper Paleolithic population. The R1 pelvis shows considerable asymmetry that was first analyzed on the sacrum in comparison with healthy modern humans and Neandertals. The asymmetry exceeds normal variation observed in the extant population and could have related to asymmetrical load dissipation. Therefore, the asymmetry was considered in the subsequent preliminary pelvic reconstruction which allowed us to assess sex of the individual and to analyze transverse dimensions of the pelvic...
|
|
|
Hunting in human evolution
Hakrová, Kristýna ; Hora, Martin (advisor) ; Rmoutilová, Rebeka (referee)
This bachelor thesis examines the current hunting techniques used by a modern man, as well as techniques used by his predecessors, while also briefly touching on their possible impact on human morphology, physiology, and behavior. The first part of the thesis discusses the role of meat in a diet and the ensuing role of hunt in hominin's life. In the following part, I elaborate on the hunting methods in the current hunter-gatherer societies, which are taken into consideration during the ancient hunting techniques' reconstructions. I further expand on certain primates' hunting behavior, especially that of chimpanzees (our closest living relatives), which serves as a basis for reenactment of early hominins' hunt where we lack sufficient evidence. In the second part of the thesis, I focus on the evolution of the hunt since the end of Pliocene until the beginning of Holocene. I address the question whether the early hominins were more likely to have been scavengers or hunters and also describe the hunting innovations in a chronological order, which influenced not only the tools used but also the hunting strategies. In the final part of the thesis, I conclude with the impact of the hunt on the entire human evolution and its possible impact on environment. Key words: hunter-gatherers, hunting tools,...
|
|
|
Skeletal reconstruction using virtual approach and its contribution to paleoanthropology
Veselá, Barbora ; Rmoutilová, Rebeka (advisor) ; Kotěrová, Anežka (referee)
- AJ Virtual anthropology is a multidisciplinary approach to studying fossil and bone material which combines knowledge from many scientific fields, such as biology, mathematics, anatomy and computational techniques. Fossil material is often incomplete, fragmentary and prone to damage, and virtual methods provide many benefits compared to traditional approaches, such as better preservation of fragile original fossil and bone material, and greater objectivity during reconstruction. Virtual methods have enabled significant progress in study of human past and evolution.
|
|
|
Transport of food, tools and offspring in human evolution
Kováčová, Katarína ; Hora, Martin (advisor) ; Rmoutilová, Rebeka (referee)
Transport of food, tools and offspring is an important part of the life of many animal communities. The transport could cause a bipedalism and upright posture in a modern man. This bachelor thesis focuses on the description of the transport of food, tools and offspring in selected primate groups, thus providing a comprehensive picture of transport in the evolution of man. The thesis contains an overview of the different types of food transferred by primates, its obtaining, and the transport itself using mouth or limbs to the place of its processing or storage. In the thesis, a special attention is paid to the tools transmitted in the limbs or in the mouth to obtain and process food. The last chapter of the thesis refers that the cubs of primates can hold on their parents' coat, or their parent provides them support with their upper limbs. The thesis places also emphasis on transport of dead offspring with which young females train the transport of their cubs. Using available facts, we derived the possible ways how a burden could be transported by extinct species of hominins, because it is not possible to determine the exact transport mechanism from their skeletal remains. Keywords: transport, primate, care, food, stone tools, cub, nuts
|
guest ::
