Why do people have a ‘coccyx’ when they don’t have a tail?
- January 21, 2023
- 0
The body structure we have as humans today has become what it is as a result of a very long evolution. In this long process Our body has
The body structure we have as humans today has become what it is as a result of a very long evolution. In this long process Our body has
The body structure we have as humans today has become what it is as a result of a very long evolution. In this long process Our body has undergone many changes.
As a result of these changes, some parts that worked for us in the past but no longer serve a function have been left behind in our bodies. One of them is found in the structure of our pelvis. coccyx.
As you know, most four-legged creatures have a large or small tail because it helps them balance while moving. If people like this About 6 million years ago, we started to stand on our feet.
Since we stand on our feet in the period from 6 million years to today, we no longer need a tail to balance. Therefore, this organ, which we did not use, became atrophied in the process of evolution and was not passed on to the next generations.
Yes, of course there is a reason why the coccyx is still present in our body. This bone, which is now in our pelvis, is part of the intestines and of the genitourinary system (fistulas, abnormal connections between the vagina, urethra, bladder, or ureter) It helps repair many different muscles and ligaments necessary for their functioning.
By the way, there is still in embryo the tail begins to develop. However, when we begin to evolve into a fetus, this formation stops and only the coccyx remains in our body. For this reason, we as humans do not have a tail, but we do have a tailbone.
Some species of monkeys native to South and Central America, called “New World” monkeys, can crawl around tree branches and even support their body weight and They have tails that can grab objects.
But our closest living relatives with tails, such as the baboon and macaque that live in Africa, Asia and southern Europe, usually have their tails. use for balance “Old World” They’re monkeys and none of them have a prehensile tail because that’s a step back in the family tree.
A long hairy tail like that of a macaque, it could serve as a natural shawl, so we could wrap our tails around us for warmth. If we had evolved to hibernate in the winter, our tails could even serve as a fat storage system – which some animals use.
Given the human urge to adorn oneself, the tails are a series ofIt can also lead to a fashion trend. The oldest jewelry in history dates back 100,000 years. Therefore, in addition to ornaments such as necklaces and earrings of our ancestors, tail rings, tail veils and even tail hair nets were used. It is not hard to imagine developing accessories such as
Source: Web Tekno
Ashley Johnson is a science writer for “Div Bracket”. With a background in the natural sciences and a passion for exploring the mysteries of the universe, she provides in-depth coverage of the latest scientific developments.