Doctoral Dissertation Improvement: Ontogeny of Bipedalism: Pedal Mechanics and Trabecular Bone Morphology

博士论文改进：双足行走的个体发育：踏板力学和骨小梁形态学

• 批准号: 1028958
• 负责人: Liza Shapiro
• 金额: $ 1.98万
• 依托单位: University of Texas at Austin
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-09-01 至 2012-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1028958&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Doctoral; Dissertation; Improvement; Ontogeny; Bipedalism

Walking on two feet (bipedal walking) is a hallmark of human behavior that matures gradually throughout development. The way in which the foot contacts the ground, and thus the way in which foot bones are loaded during walking, differ in toddlers and adults. As toddlers grow, the shape and structure of their internal (trabecular) bone also changes. The objective of this study is to document concurrent developmental changes in human foot bone loading and internal bone structure within a comparative context. Additionally, this study uses comparative data from living apes and humans to determine the nature and development of walking adaptations in early human ancestors (Australopithecus afarensis). This study consists of three main parts: 1) an experimental analysis of forces that load the foot during bipedal walking in human toddlers, 2) a micro CT scan analysis of trabecular structure in human and African ape foot bones that receive high forces during walking, and 3) a trabecular analysis of juvenile and adult A. afarensis foot bones. By identifying functionally significant anatomical correlates to bipedal walking within human foot bones, this study will help resolve debate regarding the extent to which bipedal walking in A. afarensis resembled that of modern humans. Moreover, this study will examine the bipedalism of A. afarensis in greater detail than previous studies because it will be the first to infer bipedal development from foot bones in this fossil species.Beyond the scope of physical anthropology, this study has clinical implications for pediatric orthopedics including the study of normal and pathological bone changes in juveniles. This project will also expand research opportunities available to undergraduates by affording undergraduate students (particularly members of under-represented groups) the opportunity to obtain hands-on research experience by aiding in data collection.

两足行走（双足行走）是人类行为的标志，在整个发育过程中逐渐成熟。脚接触地面的方式，以及在行走过程中脚骨加载的方式，在幼儿和成人中是不同的。随着幼儿的成长，其内部（小梁）骨的形状和结构也会发生变化。本研究的目的是记录人类足部骨负荷和内部骨结构在比较背景下的同步发育变化。此外，这项研究使用了来自活猿和人类的比较数据，以确定早期人类祖先（南方古猿阿法种）行走适应的性质和发展。本研究由三个主要部分组成：1）在人类幼儿双足行走过程中加载足部的力的实验分析，2）在行走过程中接受高力的人类和非洲猿足部骨骼中的骨小梁结构的微CT扫描分析，以及3）青少年和成年A. afarensis足骨。通过在人类足部骨骼中识别与双足行走相关的功能性解剖学意义，这项研究将有助于解决关于A。阿法人与现代人相似。此外，本研究还将探讨A.阿法种的研究比以往的研究更详细，因为它将是第一个推断从这种化石物种的脚骨双足发育。超出体质人类学的范围，这项研究对儿科骨科包括青少年正常和病理性骨骼变化的研究具有临床意义。该项目还将通过为本科生（特别是代表性不足的群体的成员）提供通过协助数据收集获得实践研究经验的机会，扩大本科生的研究机会。