The Vertebral Column of Australopithecus sediba

Two partial vertebral columns of Australopithecus sediba grant insight into aspects of early hominin spinal mobility, lumbar curvature, vertebral formula, and transitional vertebra position. Au. sediba likely possessed five non-rib-bearing lumbar vertebrae and five sacral elements, the same configur...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2013-04, Vol.340 (6129), p.165-165
Main Authors: Williams, Scott A., Ostrofsky, Kelly R., Frater, Nakita, Churchill, Steven E., Schmid, Peter, Berger, Lee R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Australopithecus
Biological Evolution
Biomechanical Phenomena
Cervical Vertebrae - anatomy & histology
Construction
Curvature
Fossils
Grants
Hominidae - anatomy & histology
Hominidae - physiology
Human
Humans
Indicators
Locomotion
Lumbar Vertebrae - anatomy & histology
Mathematical analysis
Posture
Sacrum - anatomy & histology
South Africa
Spine
Spine - anatomy & histology
Spine - physiology
Thoracic Vertebrae - anatomy & histology
Vertebrae
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Summary:Two partial vertebral columns of Australopithecus sediba grant insight into aspects of early hominin spinal mobility, lumbar curvature, vertebral formula, and transitional vertebra position. Au. sediba likely possessed five non-rib-bearing lumbar vertebrae and five sacral elements, the same configuration that occurs modally in modern humans. This finding contrasts with other interpretations of early hominin regional vertebral numbers. Importantly, the transitional vertebra is distinct from and above the last rib-bearing vertebra in Au. sediba, resulting in a functionally longer lower back. This configuration, along with a strongly wedged last lumbar vertebra and other indicators of lordotic posture, would have contributed to a highly flexible spine that is derived compared with earlier members of the genus Australopithecus and similar to that of the Nariokotome Homo erectus skeleton.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1232996