COMPARING THE HUMAN SKULL TO THAT OF OTHER VERTEBRATES: THE FRONTAL AND PARIETAL BONES

skullskull

The human forehead is composed of a frontal bone which composes the upper part of the orbit (eye socket), possesses a sinus, and extends to form part of the postorbital bar which protects the eye from the lateral sides. Much of the lateral region of the braincase is composed of parietal bones. Do other vertebrates possess these bones in their skulls? If so, what are the similarities or differences? Is there any feature which specifically adapts thes bones for the human condition? (You may click on the images to enlarge them.)

Bowfin and frog skulls:

bowfinfrog

Salamander, opossum and mink skulls:

salamanderopossummink

Cat skulls

catcatcat

Lemur skulls (a primitive primate)

lemurlemur

Tarsier skulls (a primitive primate)

tarsiertarsier

Monkey skulls (marmoset and rhesus)

monkeymonkeyrhesus

Rhesus monkey and Bonobo chimp skulls

rhesuschimp
WHAT SPECIFIC SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES DID YOU NOTICE BETWEEN THE HUMAN STRUCTURES AND THOSE OF OTHER VERTEBRATES? HOW DO THESE STRUCTURAL SIMILARITIES/DIFFERENCES COMPARE TO SIMILARITIES/DIFFERENCES IN LIFESTYLE? WHAT MAKES HUMANS UNIQUE? WHAT RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ORGANISMS DO YOU FEEL ARE SUPPORTED BY YOUR COMPARISONS OF THEIR FEATURES? WHAT FEATURES DO YOU FEEL DEFINE A PARTICULAR GROUP?
BACK