The Oldest Human Hand: The Origins and Implications of Tool Use in Human Hands
Category: Research Poster
Author(s): Rowan Walker-Gilman
Presenter(s): Rowan Walker-Gilman
Mentors(s): Kimberly Nichols
The human hand is one of the most unique structures among vertebrates. Its morphology, including skeletal, muscular, and nerve anatomy, allows for the creation and utilization of complex tools. Some early humans, such as Homo erectus and Homo sapiens neanderthalensis were known tool-users with some of the same characteristics as modern humans. Based on functional hand anatomy, modern humans make and use sophisticated technologies that evolved from the adaptive behaviors in early humans. However, our modern technology is not necessarily with our inherited hand morphology. I report on my review of scientific literature on human hand functional anatomy. By comparing the hand anatomy of extinct and modern human tool users, I test the problems currently associated with hand health and our use of advanced technologies.