The Postcranial Skeleton of Modern Humans

Question

The postcranial skeleton of modern humans
A) is more robust than Neanderthal skeletons.
B) includes heavily built hands.
C) is characterized by long limbs with thin-walled bones.
D) has a larger crural index.

Accepted Answer

The postcranial skeleton of modern humans is characterized by long limbs with thin-walled bones, which enables efficient walking and running. This is in contrast to the more robust limb bones of Neanderthals. Additionally, modern human hands are less heavily built than Neanderthal hands. The crural index, which compares the lengths of the tibia and femur, is not a defining characteristic of the modern human postcranial skeleton.