What are some differences between the monkey's and a human skeleton?

1 Answer
May 10, 2017

There are innumerable differences: few major characters could be discussed here.

  • Monkeys walk on all four limbs: hence forearms are comparatively longer. In human hindlimb is comparatively longer. Phalanges of digits longer in monkeys, compared to those of human.

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  • Hip is narrower in monkeys and angle of attachment of femur in acetabulum differs a lot from that in human: this leads to appearance of 'arched' leg when monkeys try to stand on their hind limbs. Hip in human is short but wide.
  • Both thumb (of forelimb) and big toe (of hind limb) are perfectly opposable in monkeys, to help them in grasping tree branches. In human, only thumb is opposable.

  • Skull of monkey contains very small cranial space, while there is pronounced 'occipital bun' in human i.e. back of skull is projected.

  • Foramen magnum (opening through which spinal cord emerges out of skull) is more posterior in position compared to vertically downwards position of foramen magnum in human skull.

hdr-xray-images.com

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  • Vestigial tail bone coccyx is present human skeleton, but skeleton of monkey displays a series of tail vertebrae.

  • Number of lumbar bones more in skeleton of monkey, which are only five in case of human skeleton.

  • Vertebral column of monkey is arched in the shape of C, while vertebral column in human is in the form S.

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTxSaEdS80A0eLMsNzOOH0RU-yGI9CCrRSVbnfW606AI61KFDP9

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