In section, you can handle skull casts of some of the non-human primates and some of the fossil hominids. You'll also have a simple classification exercise based on the skeletal features.
The list of terms below is certainly not a complete list of all the anatomical comparisons, but you should know what they mean and where possible, you should look at each specimen so you have a better understanding.
If you have the opportunity, we strongly urge that you look at parts 1-2 of the recent video series Ape Man available at Iowa City Public Library which clearly shows the relationships and development of human evolution and anatomy. A book of the same title is also available.
The terms listed below will all be explained in the class demonstrations and hands-on activities. Try to note what each term means and how the characteristics changed as our species evolved.
Bipedal locomotion
Upright posture
Stride
Great toe
Brachiation
Opposable thumb
Precision Grip
Power Grip
For an excellent web presentation and tutorial on the human (H.s.s.) skull, visit the Skull Module from the Department of Anthropology at CSU-Chico (http://www.csuchico.edu/anth/Module/skull.html. This will give you some good, basic skull anatomy.
Crests (saggital, occipital)
Foreman magnum
Dental
Arcade/Arch
Supraorbital torus
Zygomatic arch
Mandible
Vaulted
forehead
Cranial capacity
Binocular vision
Diastema
Try to understand the relationship between the various terms and between the groups of terms.
On the skull casts, try to note the differences between the non- human primates and the hominids. On the fossil hominids, how did the features change?