Upright posture walking with two legs
Upright posture walking with two legs, also known as bipedalism, is a unique characteristic of human locomotion. It refers to the ability to walk on two legs while maintaining an erect posture.
Bipedalism is one of the key features that distinguishes humans from other primates, as most primates primarily use all four limbs for locomotion. This adaptation allows humans to have greater freedom of movement and engage in a wide range of activities.
When walking upright, several anatomical and physiological changes occur. These include:
1. Skeletal Adaptations: Our spine has a distinct curvature, with an inward curve at the lower back (lumbar region) known as lordosis, and an outward curve at the upper back (thoracic region) known as kyphosis. This S-shaped curve helps balance the body's weight over the legs while walking.
2. Pelvic Adaptations: The human pelvis is shorter and broader compared to other primates. This allows the body's center of gravity to be positioned directly over the legs, providing stability during walking.
3. Leg and Foot Structure: Our hip joint is positioned closer to the center of the body, which helps maintain balance. Additionally, our legs are longer, and our thigh bones (femurs) angle inward, which aids in supporting the weight of the body. The foot has evolved an arch, which acts as a shock absorber and improves propulsion during walking.
4. Muscular Adaptations: Bipedal walking requires the coordinated action of multiple muscle groups, including those in the legs, hips, and core. The gluteal muscles, quadriceps, hamstrings, and calf muscles play crucial roles in maintaining stability and enabling efficient movement while walking.
5. Energy Efficiency: Walking upright on two legs is more energetically efficient than other modes of locomotion, such as quadrupedal walking. This efficiency is due to the reduced energy expenditure required to move a single leg compared to multiple limbs.
Upright posture walking has allowed humans to adapt to diverse environments and engage in various activities such as long-distance travel, tool usage, and fine motor skills development. It is a defining characteristic of our species and has played a significant role in shaping human evolution and progression.
Walking with an upright posture on two legs is a complex process that involves several steps. Here's a step-by-step explanation of how it is achieved:
1. Balance and Weight Distribution: Before taking a step, the body needs to maintain balance and distribute the weight properly. The feet should be aligned with the hips, and the center of gravity should be in the middle of the body.
2. Stance Phase: The walking cycle begins with one foot on the ground. This foot is referred to as the stance foot. The stance phase can be further divided into several sub-phases:
a. Heel Strike: The heel of the stance foot makes initial contact with the ground, absorbing the shock of landing.
b. Foot Flat: The entire foot makes contact with the ground, and the body weight slowly shifts from the heel to the midfoot.
c. Midstance: The body weight is evenly distributed over the whole foot, and the pelvis is aligned with the leg supporting the body.
d. Heel Off: The heel of the stance foot begins to lift off the ground, and the body weight starts shifting towards the other leg.
3. Swing Phase: After the stance phase, the foot transitions into the swing phase, where it is lifted off the ground and moves forward:
a. Toe Off: The foot pushes off the ground using the toes, propelling the body forward.
b. Midswing: The leg swings freely forward, passing the supporting leg.
c. Terminal Swing: The leg starts preparing to make contact with the ground again.
4. Repeated Steps: The process described above is repeated with the other leg taking over as the stance foot and repeating the stance and swing phases.
By continuously repeating these steps, the body is able to walk with an upright posture on two legs. It is important to note that the muscles, joints, and nervous system all work together to coordinate these movements and maintain stability throughout the walking cycle.