The goal of this review is to discuss the mechanisms of postural degeneration, particularly
the loss of lumbar lordosis commonly observed in the elderly in the context of evolution …

The postcranial axial skeleton exhibits considerable morphological and functional diversity
among living primates. Particularly striking are the derived features in hominoids that …

Background Whether differences exist in male and female lumbar lordosis has been
debated by researchers who are divided as to the nature of variations in the spinal curve …

Schmorl's nodes are the result of herniations of the nucleus pulposus into the adjacent
vertebral body and are commonly identified in both clinical and archaeological contexts. The …

Previous work suggests females are evolutionarily adapted to have greater lumbar lordosis
than males to aid in pregnancy load‐bearing, but no consensus exists. To explore further …

Sex determination is critical for developing the biological profile of unidentified skeletal
remains. When more commonly used elements (os coxa, cranium) for sexing are not …

Sexual dimorphism is important for intraspecific variation and well studied in the human
skeleton. In the thoracic part of the spine sexual dimorphism is expected for differences in …

Objectives The shape of the human lumbar spine is considered to be a consequence of
erect posture. In addition, several other factors such as sexual dimorphism and variation in …

Background Degenerative joint disease (DJD) in the lumbar spine is a common condition
that is associated with chronic low back pain. Excessive loading of lumbar joints is a risk …

Adaptations of the lower back to bipedalism are frequently discussed but infrequently
demonstrated in early fossil hominins. Newly discovered lumbar vertebrae contribute to a …