Linking the proximal tibiofibular joint to hominid locomotion: A morphometric study of extant species

Abstract

AbstractObjectivesWe perform a comparative assessment of shape variation of the proximal fibula in extant humans and great apes, intending to investigate the possible link between proximal fibular shape and locomotor patterns.MethodsOur sample includes 94 fibulae of 37Homo sapiens, 15Gorilla, 17Pongo, and 25Pan. Fibular morphology was investigated through three‐dimensional (semi)landmark‐based geometric morphometric methods.ResultsWe found unique features of the human fibular head compared to that of great apes (i.e., oblique articular surface, the presence of the styloid process, specific morphology of muscle attachment sites), supporting the functional role of this bone in relation to human obligate bipedalism. Great apes also showed distinctive traits in their proximal fibula morphology, in agreement with differences in locomotor behavior.ConclusionThe morphology of the proximal fibula in extant humans and great apes is indicative of locomotor behavior, offering the potential for the comparative analysis of fossil hominin remains.